A US pilot and flight instructor recently revealed exactly what could possibly happen if you fail to turn on airplane mode on your phone. His revelation has left the internet shocked. The same opinion was voiced by an ex-U.S. Army member who went viral on TikTok.
Putting your cellphone away is one of the first things that passengers are instructed to do before an aircraft takes off. Many of us haven’t bothered to question the reason behind the standard procedure. A lot of the flyers completely disregard the advice and opt out of switching on the airplane mode.
Many passengers have a lingering doubt in their minds, what exactly could go wrong if they opt out of turning airplane mode on. “Not a darn thing,” answers an experienced pilot named Gary Coxe. Coxe proves to be a credible source with his record of 7,000 flying hours to date. A Bristol Live report notes that it is polite to put your phone on airplane mode.
TikTok user PerchPoint, who was an ex-U.S. Army member, also has a similar standpoint on the highly debated topic. “No, your plane won’t fall out of the sky, and it won’t even mess with the systems on board,” the TikToker can be heard saying in one of the videos posted online.
Though the TikToker went on to add that failing to follow the instructions might potentially “mess with the headsets.” The video where the ex-army member talks about the topic went viral and amassed over 1.2 million views.
Here’s why you need to put your phone on ‘Airplane Mode’ before you take off #TravelTuesday pic.twitter.com/d5ofXZx7fz
— Business Insider (@BusinessInsider) September 27, 2016
The TikToker reveals that even 3 to 4 passengers who are on board a Boeing 737 who fail to put their phones on airplane mode can cause disruption in the communications for the pilots. The mobile radio waves often mess with the cockpit communication devices.
Not having access to communication could be a serious concern on days that pilots are commanding the plane with limited visibility. The information that is relayed to the pilots through the headsets is crucial to safely flying the plane to the destination.
Forgetting to turn your phone’s airplane mode on can actually interfere with your captain’s communication with air traffic control (ATC). For instance, if a cabin full of passengers were to make calls during take-off, that could cause serious problems. #Aircraft #Aviation pic.twitter.com/46mYjfQnRe
— Aviation Facts (@AirplaneCentral) February 2, 2024
There is a high chance of audio clarity being disrupted when mobile phone radio waves interfere with the headsets. The TikToker describes the noise to be similar to a mosquito and its buzzing. PerchPoint notes how “annoying” it can get for the pilot wearing the headset.
Surprisingly, it is not mandatory to turn airplane mode on for passengers who are flying within the UK and the European Union. Flyers are now allowed to use their phones during takeoff and landing according to the new guidelines. As long as the airline policies allow it, passengers can even make calls using their phones.
