It's an optical illusion. The planes aren't really that close together. The person who shot the video is using a telephoto lens and is zoomed way in. This compresses the space and flattens it out so it's hard to judge distance. Also the plane in front is smaller than the one in the back which heightens the illusion. It's a really cool shot!
this post was submitted on 27 Dec 2023
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I mean, it's rare enough that 2 planes land at the same time. They are definitely "close" but probably some 200m apart.
It’s not as rare as you may think. I used to work at a weather service office located right near the end of one of the runways at IAD and it would happen a few times a day if the airport was busy and the winds were such that they were coming in from our side.
Wait a minute, are you telling me that the hobbit actors weren't really that small?
No they were, Peter Jackson just had his actor's legs cut off for the movie
Is this standard procedure or an emergency situation?
OMG I wasn't expecting this much answers! Thank you all 🙏
SOP (like 99% sure). Many airports have parallel runways with more than enough clearance for two simultaneous landings. I have been a passenger in this scenario at least four times that I can think of, and I don't fly that much. I think those were in Denver, SFO and LAX. I don't recall there being any situation that would be considered an emergency on any of those.
That has to be an emergency. I can't see how any pilot would risk it unless they had to.
The runways are probably 300 m apart.
Ah, so it's perspective trickery. Still scary AF to watch.