Despite what many people think, moving backward isn't entirely impossible for an aircraft (of course if we talk about traveling on the ground). It's another matter that they never do. Some planes can perform a so-called "powerback," which is the very thing that makes it move in reverse. In this case, a plane's jet engines direct the thrust forward instead of backward.

Jet airplanes can use the reverse thrust if they need to brake as fast as possible after the touchdown, or when they need to make an emergency stop. Anyway, if planes can potentially taxi backward, why don't they? And what about flying in reverse?

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