What Actually Happens If You Don’t Use Airplane Mode on Your Phone During a Flight?

If you’ve ever wondered why your phone has to be in airplane mode during a flight, you’re not alone. In fact, many frequent fliers can’t recite the reasons behind the rule, and others have forgotten to turn it on. So, what really happens when you don’t use airplane mode? It depends who you ask. 

“Not a darn thing,” says Gary Coxe, a pilot and flight instructor with 7,000 flight hours, including time spent piloting jets, helicopters, and gliders. A Washington-based airline mechanic who wants to remain anonymous tells Travel + Leisure he agrees with Coxe’s sentiments. Still, most aviation experts admit it’s considerate to put your phone in airplane mode, even if the consequences aren’t so dire. 

“No, your plane won’t fall out of the sky, and it won’t even mess with the systems on board. However, it does have the potential to mess with the headsets,” explains a pilot and U.S. Army veteran who goes by PerchPoint on TikTok, where his December 2024 viral video explaining airplane mode has already racked up 1.2 million views. He goes on to explain that even if three or four passengers on a Boeing 737 have their phones trying to connect to a cellular network, there’s a potential that the radio waves from their phones can interfere with the radio waves of the cockpit’s headsets. 

Because pilots often have limited visibility, they rely on intel they get from the ground via their headsets, especially for take-off and landing (when most aviation-related accidents occur). If cell phone radio waves are interfering with headsets, pilots can usually still hear instructions from the control tower, but the audio could be less clear. PerchPoint likens it to the buzzing noise a mosquito makes and says it’s “annoying.” 

A spokesperson for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) declined to tell T+L whether or not they know of any incidents where a passenger’s phone that wasn’t in airplane mode caused an accident. However, they did say the FAA maintains that cell phone (and any personal electronic device) use is only allowed in flight if it’s not affecting the airplane’s safety or communications systems. The FAA takes its cues from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which, in 1991, banned all cell phone use in flight because it was determined that cell phone signals could interfere with “critical aircraft instruments.”

Still, in 2013, the FCC revisited the topic, noting that advancements in technology meant passengers could use their phones, as long as they were in airplane mode. Their research stated that “technology that can be installed directly on an airplane is now available to prevent such interference and has already been deployed successfully in many other countries around the world without incident.” That same year, CNN reported on an International Air Transport Association study that found that from 2003–2009, there were only 29 instances when cell phones were suspected of causing electronic device interference.

Today, passengers flying in the U.K. and the European Union aren’t asked to put their phones in airplane mode. They can even send text messages and answer calls if their airline allows it. That’s because the European Commission not only approved in-flight 5G technology, they mandated it. As of June 2023, EU member airlines have been required to equip their aircraft with special network equipment that uses a satellite network to keep passengers connected. Called a “picocell,” this equipment is like a portable cell tower. 

Unfortunately, 5G networks in Europe are different from their American counterparts. They use a lower frequency that doesn’t interfere with technology on the aircraft the way stateside 5G networks, which operate at a higher frequency, can. That’s why travelers flying in the U.S. can’t expect the FAA (which hasn’t updated its airplane mode rule since 2017) to implement the same technology any time soon. For now, a public affairs specialist for the FAA tells T+L that passengers are required to follow all crew member safety instructions, even if they come without explanations. 

While there are no reports of passengers being jailed for refusing to put their phones in airplane mode, there are instances where passengers have been punished. In 2016, a British passenger flying Flybe—a now-defunct regional airline—from Amsterdam to Exeter was fined more than $600 for his disobedience. You could even be kicked off the plane. That’s what happened in 2018 when a passenger flying from Indiana argued with a flight attendant about whether or not her phone was in airplane mode. 

Despite all the controversy, at the end of the day, it’s best to comply and put your phone in airplane mode when asked. In airplane mode, your phone isn’t trying to connect to a cell tower, so it’s conserving battery. Plus, one of the best parts about being at cruising altitude is being unreachable and recharging your social battery. Sit back (but wait to recline your seat until after take off), relax, and enjoy the flight.