Italian pilot Dario Costa has made aviation history by becoming the first person ever to land and take off a plane from a moving train, completing the daring maneuver during a high-risk stunt in Türkiye on February 15, 2026.

Costa landed his Zivko Edge 540 aerobatic aircraft on a container positioned on the 10th wagon of an 11-car freight train traveling at 120 km/h. The landing required extraordinary precision, as the narrow landing platform became visible only seconds before touchdown, leaving virtually no room for error, The Caspian Post reports via Red Bull.

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After successfully touching down, Costa executed an equally challenging takeoff from the same moving container, relying on precise aerodynamic control and vertical thrust. The maneuver demanded perfect synchronization between the aircraft and the speeding train, pushing the limits of modern aviation skill.

The historic feat was the result of more than two years of planning, engineering, and simulation. Preparations began in early 2024, with flight teams developing advanced simulators and conducting controlled tests to replicate the complex dynamics of landing on a moving surface. A full-scale rehearsal was later carried out in Croatia using high-precision moving platforms to refine timing and coordination.

As continuous real-flight testing on a moving train was impossible, engineers relied heavily on advanced modeling and ground-based simulations. These technologies helped pilots and engineers fine-tune the maneuver and safely execute one of the most technically demanding stunts ever attempted.

Costa called the achievement a milestone for aviation, saying the challenge required a completely new level of focus and skill. The unprecedented stunt not only demonstrated the limits of pilot precision but also redefined what is possible in modern aerobatics and flight performance.