Airbus A330 looks suspended in place on takeoff in physics-defying footage due to unique stormy conditions
Published on Feb 15, 2026 at 12:11 AM (UTC+4)
by Grace Donohoe
Last updated on Feb 12, 2026 at 5:54 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Amelia Jean Hershman-Jones
The Airbus A330 is one of the most popular planes on planet Earth, and now the model has been captured performing a unique takeoff in very stormy conditions.
With stormy conditions, the pilot had to carefully guide the plane off the ground and up into the atmosphere.
While the OP didn’t provide information about the precise location of the takeoff, it looks like it was filmed at Farnborough Airshow way back in 1994.
The A330 is no rookie in the aviation world, with thousands in operation, and the sheer size of this jet may send shivers up your spine.
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The Airbus A330: what you need to know
One of the most versatile planes on planet Earth, the Airbus A330 is often referred to as being the ‘most popular widebody family ever’, and it’s not difficult to see why.
It all started in 1987 when the first member of the family, the A330-300, was unleashed into the world.
Since the 1980s, more than 1.460 A330s in operation have been delivered to over 145 operators and customers, making it the largest widebody operator base.
Why is it so popular, you ask?
Well, the airplane has reduced costs when it comes to operating and is used in a variety of different sectors.
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Watch this Airbus in action as it creates an optical illusion
Don’t just take our word when it comes to how impressive the A330 is.
Footage recently emerged online of the jet seemingly defying gravity in wet, windy, and stormy conditions.
First shared on Reddit by Twitter_2006, the video re-emerged when shared by howaplaneworks on Instagram.
The footage shows a unique takeoff from the A330 that looks like an optical illusion, and the plane quite literally looks suspended in place in wet and stormy weather conditions.
Once the plane is actually in the air, it looks like it is stuck in the air, gliding ever so slightly, likely battling strong winds.
When planes tackle harsh conditions like this, the pilots will often decide what control inputs are needed, with windy conditions often meaning a rudder input is needed to stop the plane rolling.
Due to these safety measures built into the plane and highly-trained pilots, the weather was clearly no match for the Airbus A330, but the sight left some social media users confused.
“Why not take advantage of the wind? Takeoff from the opposite direction?” said another
“At this point you might as well go out and push it,” joked one user.
“What happens if the wind suddenly slows down?” said a third.
You can watch all the action unfold at the top of the page.
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Beginning her career as a lifestyle reporter and social-media manager, Grace joined Supercar Blondie in February 2025. Since coming on board, she has thrown herself into the busy daily writing schedule. Her editorial sweet spots include writing about luxury properties and the quirky features inside them that the one percent are investing in, as well as groundbreaking advancements in space exploration.
