People convinced there's a 'red light' in the sky as plane stops mid air

A bizarre video of a plane that appears stuck mid-air has left people convinced it's stopped at a 'red light' in the sky - although there is a more sensible explanation. See if you can make sense of the baffling sight below:

Now, I think we all know by now that pilots don't follow the same highway code as cars and, of course, there are no traffic lights up in the sky.

But that leaves us with a big question - just what is that plane up to?

Is it an optical illusion? A glitch in the matrix? Who knows, but it's certainly left the online community stumped.

The unusual clip was shared by TikToker Denis (@plac3bo1) who wrote: "The plane is stuck in the air looking like it’s frozen."

As you'll see in the footage, the driver's dashcam captures the aircraft as it descends on its landing spot.

While the car powers down the motorway, the plane looks like it remains in the exact same spot the whole time.

The video has since gone viral, amassing more than 3.6 million views as well as thousands of comments from people who were baffled by the unusual sight.

TikTok/@plac3bo1

"Just at a red light," quipped one, while another said: "Think there’s a stop light."

Others joked that the pilot's dinner was ready and he simply 'paused' the video game, with one writing: "His mum said to pause the game."

"Bro's mom said the dinner is ready," said another, and a third added: "When your mum says pause the online game."

Some commenters just wanted to get to the bottom of what's really going on, including this person who said: "Does anyone have any explanations for this because I'm curious?"

Well, if there's one thing you can't fault about the internet, it's that there's a conspiracy theory for everything.

In this case, a number of people have suggested it's proof that we're living in a computer simulation.

"Hundred percent this is a simulation," wrote one, while another said: "Simulation's broken."

The more reasonable explanation is that the plane simply appears to stand still due to the speed of the vehicle and the perspective of the camera.

In fact, Metro's science and technology editor Jeff Parsons offered up his expertise on the matter after a similar clip went viral last year.

He wrote: "In all likelihood the motion of the car is counteracting the slowing down of the plane - possibly as it comes in to land.

"Add to that the shifting perspective of the camera and it could seem as if the plane was stationary in the air."

In short, it's probably not a glitch in the matrix - then again, the powers that be would say that, amirite?

Topics: Travel, Conspiracy Theory, Optical Illusion, Viral, TikTok

Daisy Phillipson

Daisy graduated from Kingston University with a degree in Magazine Journalism, writing a thesis on the move from print to digital publishing. Continuing this theme, she has written for a range of online publications including Digital Spy and Little White Lies, with a particular passion for TV and film. Contact her on [email protected]

@DaisyWebb77