No flight mode on a cell phone: how dangerous it really is on a plane

Before taking off and landing, the flight attendants are always asked to switch off all electronic devices or to put them into flight mode. But what is the danger if you forget to switch on flight mode on your cell phone?

What is flight mode?

As the name suggests, flight mode was introduced for flying. All connections such as cellular, WLAN, Bluetooth and NFC are cut. Switching off the cell phone would have the same effect, but the flight mode is much more comfortable.

How dangerous is it if my phone is not in flight mode?

• First of all, the reassuring message: You have no fear of serious consequences or even a plane crash if you or someone else forgets to switch on the flight mode.
• The aircraft control systems are now highly developed so that there should be no interference from cell phone radiation. However, this cannot be completely ruled out.
• But even if there are interference signals, this does not affect the safety on board in any way.
• The rule comes from a time when there were no smartphones or iPads. So you have nothing to fear with modern devices.

Why does the rule continue?

Now that it has been clarified that the on-board electronics are hardly affected by the cell phone radiation, many people ask themselves why the regulation still exists.

• On the one hand, this is due to the fact that the cell phone signal can have a minimal impact on the radio connection of the pilots. The chance that this will happen is very small, but it is there. This also does not pose a safety risk, but is uncomfortable for the pilot.
• Furthermore, this regulation still applies due to the question of comfort. Many passengers are bothered by the constant ringing of a telephone, which can be avoided with this rule.