According to the leadership of the Civil Aviation Authority, placing a phone outside the airplane window shade is very dangerous and poses a threat to flight safety due to the risk of the phone catching fire or exploding.
Recently, images of a passenger placing a phone outside the airplane window shade have circulated on social media. Many speculate that the phone’s owner intended to record a video of the scenery outside during takeoff.
On TikTok, young people have also been sharing numerous time-lapse clips capturing the sky from airplane windows as a trend.
Many passengers have raised concerns about whether the phone could affect flight safety.
Image of the phone placed outside the airplane window shade circulating on social media. (Photo: Aviation Forum).
Regarding this issue, Deputy Director of the Civil Aviation Authority, Dinh Viet Son, emphasized: “This action is very dangerous and threatens the safety of the flight due to the risk of the phone catching fire or exploding.”
“Smartphones are not classified as prohibited or dangerous items according to the annex of the aviation security regulations. During the flight, passengers are only required to turn off their devices or switch to airplane mode. However, in my opinion, filming during the flight, especially for extended periods, can cause the phone to heat up, combined with prolonged exposure to sunlight, which poses a risk of fire or explosion,” Mr. Son stated.
The Deputy Director also mentioned that the Civil Aviation Authority is directing relevant departments to study the impacts to establish necessary regulations and penalties.
Previously, a flight attendant named Phan Que Chi had also warned about the dangers of this trend.
She shared: “Recently, when we conduct safety checks in the passenger cabin, we have had to remind many passengers about pulling up the window shades. And when they do, I often see a phone inside. On every flight, my colleagues and I have to remind at least 2-3 passengers.”
The flight attendant stated that raising the window shades during takeoff and landing is to ensure safety for the passengers themselves. Additionally, filming with a phone for an extended period can also lead to fire hazards on the airplane.
“In my personal opinion, this action poses a threat to the safety of the flight for the person filming specifically and the entire flight in general. Therefore, we should not support or encourage this trend as it can indirectly cause danger,” Phan Que Chi said.
