how fast are planes going when they land

Commercial passenger planes usually touch down at about 130–160 mph (roughly 210–260 km/h), depending on the aircraft type, weight, and weather.

Typical landing speeds

• Most modern airliners (like Boeing 737, 777, Airbus A320, A350) generally land in the range of about 130–160 mph (112–156 knots).

• For a big long‑haul jet (Boeing 747 or similar), typical landing speeds are around 140–170 mph, depending on configuration and weight.

• Small training planes (like a Cessna 172) land far slower, around 70–80 mph (about 60–70 knots).

Why they land “so fast”

• A plane must stay above its stall speed so the wings keep producing enough lift; if it went much slower, it could lose lift and sink too quickly.

• On landing, pilots extend flaps and gear to increase lift and drag, which allows a safe, controlled approach at the lowest practical speed for that aircraft.

What passengers feel

• Even though 140 mph is fast by car standards, the approach is very controlled, so it often feels like a firm but normal “tap” onto the runway rather than a dramatic impact.

• Weather, runway length, and aircraft weight can make pilots choose a slightly higher landing speed, which may feel like a faster roll‑out and stronger braking after touchdown.

Variations by aircraft type

• High‑performance military trainers or jets can land well above 160 knots, especially with reduced flaps, because of their small wings and high wing loading.

• Light general‑aviation planes or bush planes can land extremely slowly—sometimes under 60 knots—especially with strong headwinds, which can make ground speed look almost walking pace.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.