The dynamics of plasma plume formed by high-intensity CO2 laser induced breakdown of air at atmospheric pressure is investigated. The laser wavelength is 10.6 mu m. Measurements were made using 3 ns gated fast photography as well as space and time resolved optical emission spectroscopy. The behavior of the plasma plume was studied with a laser energy of 3 J and 10 J. The results show that the evolution of the plasma plume is very complicated. The splitting and rebounding of the plasma plume is observed to occur early in the plumes history. (C) 2012 American Institute of Physics. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4737165]