---
title: How to safely land a plane
date: "2006-06-30T12:00:00Z"
categories:
  - links
wp_id: 279
description: I explore the bizarre physics in Superman Returns, where the hero safely lands a plane by shearing off one of its wings, a counterintuitive feat of cinematic disaster management highlighted by the blog Collision Detection.
keywords: [superman returns, physics, aerodynamics, collision detection, cinema, disaster management]
---

[How to safely land a plane](http://www.collisiondetection.net/mt/archives/2006/06/how_to_safely_l.html) - by blowing one of its wings off.

Strangely, that's what Superman does in [Superman Returns](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0348150/). (see [video of Superman saving a plane](http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2887428387152671383)).