No, an airplane cannot stand still in mid-air like a helicopter or a drone can hover. Airplanes generate lift by moving through the air, utilizing the forward motion to generate the necessary lift to counteract gravity. The lift is produced by the interaction between the wings and the airflow passing over them.
To maintain altitude, an airplane's wings must generate lift equal to the weight of the aircraft. This lift is achieved by the airplane's engines propelling it forward, causing the airflow over the wings to create the necessary lift force. If an airplane were to completely stop moving forward, it would start to descend due to the force of gravity, as there would no longer be sufficient lift to counteract it.
However, it is worth noting that an airplane can fly at very low speeds, close to its stall speed, which is the minimum speed required to maintain level flight. At this speed, the airplane is operating at the edge of its performance envelope, and any further reduction in speed would result in a loss of lift, causing the airplane to stall and lose altitude rapidly.
In summary, while an airplane cannot stand still in mid-air, it can fly at very low speeds, close to its stall speed, but it still requires forward motion to maintain lift and stay airborne.