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What Happens If You Leave Your Phone On During A Flight?

What Happens If You Leave Your Phone On During A Flight?

A pilot has revealed all.

Anonymous

Anonymous

An estimated 100,000 flights take off around the world every day, yet more than a quarter of Brits are afraid of flying.

Easyjet pilot, Chris Forster, speaking to the Liverpool Echo, busted many of the myths arounds flying - helping to put those fears to bed, maybe.

So what could actually happen if you left your mobile phone on during a flight?

"Nothing to be concerned about," according to Chris.

"Aircraft control systems are so sophisticated now, that they wouldn't cause any interference.

"The regulations date back many years to when we didn't even have things like iPads.

"The laws are starting to be relaxed - you can now use your devices in flight safety mode - and I think we'll see more changes over the next few years."

What about the plane door being open mid-flight, sucking passengers out in a Snakes on a Plane-esque disaster?

Simply not possible.

"The aircraft is pressurized and the doors are what we call 'plug doors', which prevents them from being opened until the pressure is released," reassures Chris.

Neither is that 'heart-in-your-mouth' turbulence even remotely likely to bring down your plane.

He said: "An aircraft is built to withstand several times the force of turbulence you're ever likely to experience."

And while 'a plane's engine could fail,' (scary) it's 'an extremely remote possibility because the amount of care and attention that goes into maintaining an engine is incredible' (phew).

"Most pilots are unlikely to ever experience a technical fault with their aircraft in their entire flying career, let alone an engine failure," Chris claims.

However, once on board even the most mundane requests can set off alarms bells in a passenger's head.

The fasten seatbelts sign, seemingly illuminated for no reason, is often pilots "just being cautious".

And being asked to lift-up your tray and window shutter during take-off and landing avoids potential injury in the unlikely event that take-off was abandoned, or it was necessary to evacuate.

Safe with this knowledge Chris has "hand on heart" never been "scared in the air;" despite flying for 16 years.

Now this summer you can fly a little bit happier.

Words: Brad Marshall

Featured Image Credit: PA