We all know the importance of airplane mode on our devices during flights, and most of us remember to activate it. But what really happens if you don’t? A seasoned pilot reveals the surprising consequences of skipping this crucial step. From potential interference with navigation systems to safety concerns, there’s more to airplane mode than meets the eye. Ready to uncover why this small action is a big deal? Let’s dive in!
While we may have some vague ideas about its importance, is airplane mode actually crucial?
Not enabling airplane mode won’t cause the plane to crash or explode. However, according to the pilot, when passengers keep their phones off airplane mode, the radio waves from their phones can interfere with the radio signals used by the pilot's headset.
Due to the overlapping radio waves, they heard a buzzing noise in their headset, akin to the sound of a fly. The pilot described it as, “It’s definitely not the end of the world, but trying to read instructions while hearing a buzzing sound, like a bee flying near your ear, can be pretty frustrating.”
For this reason, the pilot emphasized that passengers should enable airplane mode during flights.