Threat of a plane crash: why you should always switch your phone to airplane mode on planes

Almost everyone has learnt by now that when travelling by plane, you should put your mobile phone on airplane mode.

Remember that when you get on the plane, you get an announcement: "Please make sure that electronic devices such as smartphones or tablets are switched off or in airplane mode." This is the announcement in every plane. Those who refuse can sometimes even be kicked off the plane, according to Travelbook.

As the captain of one of the planes explained, the answer to this question is quite simple. After all, if the mobile phone was not switched off or switched to airplane mode, the pilot could, in extreme cases, hear background noise - similar to that created through a loudspeaker when the mobile phone is too close. This can even lead to the pilot no longer understanding important radio signals (perfectly), which can sometimes have serious consequences.

What dangers lurk on board the aircraft

It is emphasised that, according to the testimony of aircraft pilots, unpleasant incidents often occur because passengers have not switched their phones to airplane mode. It is clarified that this is due to the radiation from the mobile phone, which can disrupt the radio waves of the onboard communication system.

This can be a risk, especially during the gate, if all passengers switch on their mobile phones at the same time - and they then connect to their respective providers.

Additionally, in an effort to please the customer, you can also use Wi-Fi on board almost all airlines. This often costs an additional fee, but in some airlines it is already free.

And in some cases, there are also restrictions on certain services: for example, you may be allowed to send messages for free, but may be charged extra for services that require more data, such as streaming.

If you can't do without the internet on a plane, you should invest in a WLAN option if in doubt - there is a risk of death if your mobile phone is switched on on a plane, even without airplane mode, but usually not, the article says.