Flying is among the safest forms of transport, largely due to meticulously crafted safety protocols. Whilst certain measures might appear mundane or superfluous, every single one serves a crucial function in protecting passengers and crew alike.

However, a pilot (@PerchPoint) has turned to TikTok to disclose whether one specific procedure genuinely needs to be followed. Whether through absent-mindedness or simple ignorance, activating airplane mode on your device is essential and is not "a conspiracy theory," the pilot cautions.

But what actually happens if you don't?

Opening the video, the pilot explained: "This is just a friendly PSA, that the airplane mode button is not a conspiracy.

"If you forget to put your phone on airplane mode, no, it's not the end of the world, the plane will not fall out of the sky, and it won't even mess with the systems on board."

"If you have an aircraft with 70, 80, or 150 people on board and even three or four people's phones start to try and make a connection to a radio tower for an incoming phone call, it sends out radio waves. There's a potential that those radio waves can interfere with the headsets that the pilots are using."

He continued to describe his personal encounter with this interference whilst attempting to land safely, noting there was an irritating noise in the headset that "sounded like a mosquito."

The pilot continued: "No, it's not the end of the world, but it's pretty annoying when you're trying to copy down instructions and it sounds like a wasp or something flying around you. So if you're ever curious why you need to put on airplane mode, that's why."

According to Travel and Leisure, it's more than simply a nuisance. Pilots frequently have restricted visibility, meaning they depend on information from the ground, particularly during takeoff and landing (when most aviation-related incidents happen)"

Consequently, it is crucial that they aren't distracted or have their hearing impaired.

Is it a regulation or a courtesy?

Per Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations, all passengers must enable airplane mode during flight to avoid potential signal interference.

It's also a straightforward act of courtesy that helps guarantee a seamless experience for all passengers on board, reported Booking.com.

"When smartphones and devices were first introduced, it was found that cell phones that aren't in flight mode can overload the networks on the ground, especially during takeoff and landing, as phones try to connect to multiple towers at once.

"How much phones affect aviation technology hasn't been studied in-depth, but pilots say they can hear background noise and interference from phones while flying, especially when they're landing, and mobile phones begin to make contact with towers again.

"So, while your phone may work at times during flight, do you really want to distract your pilot while they're speaking with air traffic control to execute a safe landing?" said the travel site.

Why can flight crew use devices?

According to Lovely Planet, pilots and flight attendants are seen with devices right in the cockpit, which gives them access to digital charts and documents.

Nevertheless, unlike passenger devices, this equipment has undergone rigorous testing to guarantee it doesn't disrupt the aircraft's systems.