飛(ひ)行(こう)機(き) hikoukiは waロンドン rondonに ni近(ちか)づ()い()て()い()た() chikazuiteita。 The airplane was approaching London. Literal Airplane [topic-は] London [toward-に] was-approaching. 近づく (ちかづく, 'to approach, draw near') combined with ~ていた creates a past progressive: the plane was in the process of approaching at that point in time. airplanestransportation~ていた (past progressive/state)
飛(ひ)行(こう)機(き) hikoukiは waロンドン rondonに ni近(ちか)づ()い()て()い()た() chikazuiteita。 The airplane was approaching London. Literal Airplane [topic-は] London [toward-に] was-approaching. 近づく (ちかづく, 'to approach, draw near') combined with ~ていた creates a past progressive: the plane was in the process of approaching at that point in time. airplanestransportation~ていた (past progressive/state)