Boarding a plane is rarely anyone’s favourite activity, and the wait for takeoff, seated and idle, can feel endless. Often, passengers are on their phones, checking social media and responding to messages while the aircraft is in the air. Despite cabin crew instructing everyone to enable airplane mode, some ignore the request, assuming it is inconsequential.
Most of the time, the plane reaches its destination, and nothing has really happened. But this is not always the case.
According to Gudmunder Tomas Sigurdsson, Vice President of flight operations for Icelandair, using personal electronic devices, such as mobile phones, during a flight can interfere with an aircraft’s communication and navigation systems.
Sigurdsson further explained that this risk occurs especially in “phases of flights such as take-off and landing” when pilots rely heavily on precise communication with air traffic control. This interference with the systems can “lead to missing critical information, like traffic alerts, runway assignments or changes to the route,” noted commercial pilot, flight instructor, and engineer Bobby Dutton.
Other aviation professionals echo these concerns. In a TikTok video, a pilot, known as @perchpoint, reported that smartphones not set to airplane mode can disrupt pilots’ headsets and distract them during crucial communications with ground control.
@perchpoint The more ya know, yanno? #fyp #aviation ♬ original sound – PerchPoint
Cellular service is not allowed during flights, partly for this reason. Airlines aim to reduce distractions during key moments like take-off and landing. “Using personal devices can delay responses in case of an emergency,” stated Sigurdsson.
The TikTok pilot, who served in the US Army and has been flying professionally since 2019, before becoming a pilot in 2023, explained that interfering with radios can “happen under the right circumstances.” These circumstances depend on factors like the phone provider, the location of the plane, whether the phone is actively trying to make or receive a call, and the passenger’s proximity to the cockpit.
This information is particularly important if a pilot is attempting to land in severe weather conditions like thick fog. In this case, the captain has to rely on guidance from air traffic controllers to land safely, further added Anders Akerberg, safety manager at SAS. Even though a phone can technically pick up cell towers when a place is ascending or descending, the signal is not strong or steady enough at normal flight height to keep a connection, said Akerberg. He also added that a phone would constantly try to switch between towers, making any connection unreliable.
Here's why you're asked to put your phone on airplane mode! 📱#airplanemode #flightsafety #flysmart #flightmode #phoneetiquette #FAA #flightregulations pic.twitter.com/I0r7TuY6sp
— Ramos Law – Aviation (@Ramos_Aviation) July 12, 2023
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has studied this issue, finding that personal devices could, in rare cases, affect sensitive equipment like GPS or communication systems, especially in older aircraft. In 2013, the FAA concluded that most commercial airplanes can safely tolerate interference from personal electronic devices if they are set to airplane mode, allowing their use during all phases of flight.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) supports the use of devices in airplane mode but recommends that larger devices like laptops be stowed during take-off and landing. This is not primarily due to signal interference but to prevent injury and ensure passengers remain attentive to safety instructions.
