While neglecting to activate airplane mode on your phone during a flight is unlikely to lead to a crash, it is advisable to turn it on beforehand for safety reasons.

Failing to do so can complicate communication between pilots and air traffic control, which can be problematic.

If you’ve experienced your phone buzzing near a speaker when you receive a message, you can appreciate how distracting that interference might be for pilots. Such signal disruptions can cause miscommunications, leading to potential delays, especially in busy airports where precision is crucial.

A pilot recently shared a TikTok urging travelers to use airplane mode while flying.

“It’s not a conspiracy; airplane mode exists for a reason,” he stated in his post. He recounted an incident during a flight where he encountered radio interference, likely from a cell phone, making it more challenging to communicate with air traffic control concerning taxi clearance.

Shawn Pruchnicki, a professor at the Center for Aviation Studies at The Ohio State University, noted that cell phones could theoretically disrupt airplane navigation systems as well.

“This is especially critical during landing, particularly when relying on instrument approaches,” he explained. “The signals involved are highly precise, and the autopilot depends on that accuracy. Variability during this stage can lead to serious issues, especially near terrain.”

Although there is no evidence linking cell phones to airplane crashes, it’s deemed wiser to err on the side of caution. Plus, reducing screen time could benefit everyone.