Real reason why you need to turn on airplane mode during a flight

When you board a flight and the cabin crew instructs you to turn off your phone or put them in airplane mode, have you ever paused to wonder why?

Well, one video from TED-Ed describes what happens if you don't put your phone in airplane mode when you're onboard a flight.

According to the video: 'In fact, the signal your phone broadcasts is so strong, if your eyes could see radio waves, your phone would be visible from Jupiter.'

'You see, this setting isn't to protect your flight, it's to protect everyone else in your flight path,' the YouTube video stated.

First, we must understand mobile phones.

Smartphones might find themselves close to a network tower and blast out signals / RossHelen / Getty

'Cell phones connect to networks by emitting information in the form of electromagnetic waves; specifically, radio waves, which occupy this [a] band of the electromagnetic spectrum,' the TED narrator said.

Interference is likely with many signals in the air and only a 'limited number of colours' being assigned to each one - which avoids cross-connection on calls.

Phones consume extra energy when they are far from network towers as they need to 'work overtime' to send the 'loudest signals in search of service.'

However, since planes travel so quickly, smartphones might find themselves closer to a cell tower than expected and therefore, 'blast it with a massive signal that drowns out those on the ground.'

If many people did this, can you imagine the effect on the aircraft's radio waves?

Passengers should keep their smartphones in airplane mode during flights / NurPhoto / Contributor / Getty

So when you fly without airplane mode, you're essentially 'acting as a military radio jammer; sending out giant radio waves that interfere with nearby signals.'

Some viewers were thankful to finally receive an explanation behind the repetitive announcement onboard aircraft. One viewer replied: 'Finally! I was wondering what the answer to this question was lmao cause all they say is put it in airplane mode and never explain why.'

Alongside this, another comment read: 'So interesting! Not at all what I expected. Thank you TedEd for your excellent mind expanding education.'

Meanwhile, others aren't so convinced by the power of the smartphone's radio waves, saying: 'I always thought that if cellphones are truly dangerous for planes, they would be banned from the cabin outright. Aviation take safety seriously, and I don’t think they’ll risk a plane’s safety on the willingness of passengers to be inconvenienced.'