As we all know, the era we are in is characterized by the prevalence of mobile devices such as smartphones, tablets, and others. These devices have become a constant companion in our lives, as we use them everywhere – at home, on the street, at work, and even at the university. It is worth mentioning that there is a feature that has been present in phones for a long time, known as Airplane Mode. This feature was added to phones for use during air travel. When activated, it disables cellular networks, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and other networks all at once, without the need to turn them off individually or shut down the phone completely each time you board a plane. We have discussed this feature in detail in a previous post titled “Everything You Need to Know About Airplane Mode and Is It Important?” In this post, we will answer a simple yet logical question: What happens if we do not activate Airplane Mode during air travel?
The common belief is that our phone signals interfere with electronic devices and communication devices on the plane. But how dangerous is this? Does forgetting to activate Airplane Mode on our phones during air travel lead to accidents?
The answer is quite simple and contrary to what most travelers think – that their phones may cause the plane to crash. Modern technologies are safe and reliable, and there is no evidence to suggest that electronics have caused an accident before.
The reason airlines emphasize the importance of activating Airplane Mode during flights is that these devices can disturb the pilots flying the plane, as they can produce annoying sounds similar to those emitted when you bring your phone close to a speaker.
Although a pilot confirmed that while this does happen, it is rare, such incidents could potentially be problematic. It may lead to pilots not hearing important messages from the control center or cause distractions while flying, which is not ideal at all.
Moreover, even if this does not cause any issues on the plane itself, it is certainly bad for your phone. When your phone detects no signal, it will constantly search for a connection, draining the battery quickly. This means that upon landing, your phone may have no charge left.
Assuming you are flying at a high enough altitude for your phone to connect to ground cell towers, you will not benefit from this due to the fast speed of the aircraft. Even if your phone connects to a nearby tower, it will lose that connection before you can do anything.
Despite the fact that not activating Airplane Mode during air travel has not caused any accidents so far, it is still necessary to do so. It may lead to distractions for the pilots, which can be dangerous and lead to serious accidents. At the same time, activating this mode means preserving your phone’s battery for use when you land. What about you, dear reader? Do you activate Airplane Mode during air travel? What did you expect would happen if you didn’t activate it?
