Cluj-Napoca, Romania. Photo: Shutterstock Drivers in Cluj-Napoca were treated to an unusual sight late Monday night (July 13, 2026) when what appeared to be an airplane "landing" on one of the city's main roads temporarily brought traffic to a standstill.
Motorists who were traveling along a well-known street in the city noticed what looked like an aircraft occupying the roadway as it made its way toward Cluj International Airport. The aircraft, however, was not flying, as it was being transported by road as part of an oversized convoy escorted by police.
According to the National Company for Road Infrastructure Administration, the convoy was carrying an aircraft component from Henri Coandă International Airport in Otopeni to Cluj International Airport between July 10 and July 19.
Body of an aircraft transported to airport. Photo: Antoine Houzelstein / Shutterstock.comThe transport followed a route spanning much of Romania, traveling from Otopeni via the A3 Motorway, Ploiești, A7, Suceava, Bistrița, Dej, and finally Cluj-Napoca.
Because of its extraordinary size, the convoy required special traffic management. The transport vehicle measured 46 meters (151 feet) long, 6.5 meters (21 feet) wide, 4.5 meters (15 feet) high, and had a total weight of 52 tonnes.
Romania's Traffic Police escorted the oversized load throughout its journey and determined each stage of the transport. Under Romanian regulations, oversized vehicles are limited to a maximum speed of 70 km/h (43 mph), although the convoy's actual speed was adjusted according to road and traffic conditions.
Authorities also said that the transport would not operate on road sections affected by yellow, orange, or red weather warnings, ensuring the oversized load could travel safely.
While the convoy briefly slowed traffic in Cluj-Napoca, it also created one of the city's most unusual sights, with many drivers believing they had just witnessed an airplane "landing" on a busy urban street.