Unusual footage shows an Airbus A330 appearing to deploy reverse thrust while still airborne—just seconds before landing.

When landing, the loud noise of engines accelerating might seem puzzling, but it’s actually part of a critical system called thrust reversers. This mechanism redirects the airflow from the ...

Thrust reversal used alone, in the absence of brakes, is difficult to apply evenly to multi-engine jets, may very well cause the dangerous skid it is meant to control.

The only kinds of planes that can use thrust reversers mid-flight are military-grade aircraft, which may use them for high-flying, speedy landings in dangerous territory.