Pilot explains what happens in cockpit if you don't use airplane mode

A pilot has explained exactly what happens in the cockpit if you forget to turn on airplane mode when travelling on a plane.

Issuing a "public service announcement" to those who travel by air, the pilot stressed airplane mode "is not a conspiracy," but having it switched off accidentally will not cause the plane to "fall out of the sky".

He said: "If you forget to turn your phone onto airplane mode, it is not the end of the world and it will not even mess with the systems on board. However, it does have the potential to mess with the headsets."

On a flight of 150 passengers, if just three people forgetting to turn their phone to airplane mode could interfere with the pilots' headsets.

This is because their phones could try to connect to radio towers to answer incoming calls or texts - therefore interfering with the headsets, which use the same radio waves.

He added: "Last night in San Francisco, we had pushed off the gate. We were talking to the rampers.

"We disconnected from the tug, started the engines, and then once we got the plane turned around, we started heading towards the taxiways, and I called up to get our clearance as to which direction we had to go."

But as soon as he started to get the directions, a "really annoying buzz" came over his headset. Simply because somebody forgot to switch their phone onto airplane mode!

During every flight, the cabin crew remind you to switch your phone onto airplane mode during the safety briefing - and pilots may warn passengers again throughout flights if they notice interference with their headsets.

Commenting on his post, one user said: "Finally, a logical and honest reason. It's a valid reason too."

Another user added: "Damn. I'll actually start using airplane mode now. Why is this information gatekept."

A third user said: "Airplane mode: because distracting the pilot of the aircraft you are flying in is a very bad idea!"

One more user added: "How isn't this something there hasn't been a solution created for yet? It just seems ridiculous."

Meanwhile, a final user said: "Not only this, but once you're in the air a persons phone is not going to get service anyway so why bother? It'll just keep searching for signal and drain your battery like crazy."