Funny, I disliked that scene exactly because of that argument. Only bad part of an otherwise awesome episode.
Because Homelander was an idiot and was wrong. When a plane lands its entire weight is resting on the landing gear. Hitting the runway at several hundred miles an hour, weighing fuck knows how much, and somehow the landing gear doesnt punch straight through the plane and shoot off into space, or whatever retarded bullshit Homelander spouted.
I wanted Mave to say "No you idiot. I didnt say fly at it like a bullet. I said fly underneath it, matching speeds, then slowly fly upwards while pushing on the plane." Catching a falling plane as its about to hit the ground? Probably not possible. Adding a tiny bit of lift and stability to a plane thats still gliding through the air, easing it down to a water landing? I see no reasonable argument against it. And Homelander certainly didnt present one.
Maybe they wanted to emphasize hes a psycho. Maybe they wanted to emphasize he's not super-smart, just super strong. Maybe it was a misguided easter egg for fans of the wrong side of internet nerd debates. I dunno.
Awesome show, this is a nitpick about an old nerd debate not the show.