A pilot has lifted the lid about airplane mode and why it’s necessary to use it while on board the plane. So here’s everything you need to know about the safety protocol
Christine Younan Deputy Editor Social Newsdesk
11:25, 16 Dec 2025
Airplane mode isn’t just a feature that’s in place for the sake of it(Image: Jaromir via Getty Images)
There are many health and safety tips that travel fans need to follow when jetting off abroad. Beyond the lengthy security checks and locating your departure gate, there are specific procedures once you’re aboard the aircraft.
While seated and awaiting departure, passengers must ensure armrests are lowered, window blinds are raised, and mobile devices switched to airplane mode. But have you ever questioned why this particular setting is mandatory?
A pilot has shed light on what occurs if passengers neglect this safety measure in a YouTube video featured by WKYC Channel 3. The crew member emphasised it’s simply “not a conspiracy” and hardly represents the “end of the world” should someone forget.
However, this doesn’t mean the rule isn’t important. In the clip, which garnered more than 26,000 views, he explained: “This is just a friendly PSA the airplane mode button on your phone is not a conspiracy.
“So if you forget to put your phone on airplane mode, no it’s not the end of the world, the plane will not fall out of the sky and it won’t even mess with the systems on board. However, it does have the potential to mess with the headsets.
“If you have an aircraft with 70, 80 or 150 people on board and even three or four people’s phones start to try to make a connection to a radio tower for an incoming phone call, it sends out radio waves, there’s the potential those radio waves can interfere with the headsets the pilots are using.”
The pilot recounted an incident in San Francisco where he was bothered by an “annoying buzz” in his headset, caused by a passenger forgetting to switch their phone off during take-off.
He likened the sound to that of a “mosquito”, stating: “And as soon as we started to get the directions, we got this really annoying buzz with the headset.
“It’s not the end of the world but definitely irritating when you’re trying to jot down instructions and it sounds like there’s a wasp or something buzzing around you. So if you’re ever curious why you get put on airplane mode, that’s why.”
So there you have it, don’t forget to use airplane mode because it can be disruptive to pilots.
No one wants to distract the crew who are tasked with keeping everyone safe, after all.
