Italian daredevil lands plane on high-speed train in Türkiye PHOTO / VIDEO

Italian stunt pilot Dario Costa has pulled off a world-first aviation feat, landing on and taking off from a moving cargo train in Afyonkarahisar, Türkiye, in a manoeuvre described as one of the most complex in modern aviation.

The daring stunt took place on February 15, 2026, when Costa guided his Zivko Edge 540 aircraft onto the ninth container of a train moving at 120 kph, before lifting off again in a near-vertical climb, Caliber.Az reports per Redbull.

Unlike conventional runway landings, the moving platform posed unique challenges. The train’s forward speed and the plane’s steep angle of descent meant Costa could barely see the landing surface until the final seconds of approach.

The pilot had to slow the plane to 87 kph—a near-stall speed—while continuously adjusting for turbulence caused by the train and fluctuating airflow around the carriages. Any slight mismatch in speed or alignment could have caused a failed landing or overshoot, making precision and timing critical.

The feat was months in the making. Planning began in early 2024 with simulations, controlled tests, and alignment exercises. Prior rehearsals included a three-day test in Pula, Croatia, where Costa used Rimac’s all-electric Nevera R hypercar as a moving platform reference to perfect speed matching and approach timing.

Advanced simulation technologies and ground-based trials were crucial, as repeated real-flight practice on a moving train was impossible.

 

 

 

 

 

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Costa described the manoeuvre as “one of the most challenging and demanding projects of my career,” highlighting the mental focus required to land virtually blind on a small moving platform. Aviation consultant Filippo Barbero praised Costa’s skill, calling him “a true magician” and noting that the level of precision required left no room for error or emotion.

The stunt also builds on Costa’s previous achievements in Türkiye, including his record-setting Tunnel Pass flight through two highway tunnels near Istanbul in 2021. Inspired by the country’s rail infrastructure and varied terrain, Costa identified Afyonkarahisar as the perfect location to safely execute the train landing project.

Experts say this landmark manoeuvre expands the boundaries of controlled flight in non-traditional environments, demonstrating the potential for pilots to interact with moving platforms in ways previously considered impossible. After touching down and taking off, Costa celebrated with a can of Red Bull, marking yet another historic milestone in aviation.

By Aghakazim Guliyev