Warning over pilots’ social media antics – with selfies and videos ‘impacting flight safety’

• READ MORE: I’m a female pilot – this is phrase I use to get passengers’ attention

Aviation experts are warning that pilots who take selfies or record videos during flights could be putting passengers in danger.

It comes amid a growing number of pilots are sharing photos and videos from the cockpit on social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok, gaining thousands of followers and amassing millions of views.

However, these seemingly harmless activities, which include pilots uploading content while flying or maneuvering the aircraft, have been linked to a number of dangerous incidents in which ‘personal devices have impacted flight safety.’

In one incident, a pilot’s camera got stuck in the controls and caused the plane to suddenly drop, injuring passengers.

The case lead to the International Federation of Air Line Pilots Associations (IFALPA), which represents 148,000 pilots around the world, publishing a paper that detailed a number of incidents that affected flight safety.

In another incident, a British pilot made selfie-style videos during important safety checks and while the plane was on the ramp.

A third case saw a pilot drop a phone used for ‘personal reasons’ between the seat and the pedestal, which resulted in fumes being released into the cockpit.

The UK’s CHIRP safety program, which campaigns to improve air and sea safety, said that while social media can help promote the airline industry, using phones during critical tasks creates clear risks.

As reported by The Telegraph, it said: ‘Such “selfie” activities are very common these days and there is a difficult balance to be struck between beneficially promoting the airline/industry and negatively impacting safety.

‘Filming or taking photos when conducting aviation tasks at the same time has clear risks of distraction and lack of situational awareness.’

While it’s not illegal for pilots to take photos or videos, it is illegal to do anything that could endanger a flight.

Not only does focusing on taking videos and photos lead to a lapse in judgment or delayed response to an unexpected event, multiple active devices can potentially interfere with radio communications between the cockpit and air traffic control. 

Most airlines ban phone use by crew during takeoff, landing, and taxiing, and taking photos or filming in the cockpit can violate company policies and potentially lead to disciplinary action. 

A senior air traffic controller criticised pilots who film themselves, calling it ‘narcissism’ and saying it distracts from their main job – flying the plane. 

The latest news shines a light on how the use of smart phones to create content on social media could pose serious risks, such as revealing sensitive security information concerning the airline.

Some airlines concerned about the potential for AI-powered location identification based on background details in photos or videos, which could pose security risks to flight staff, reports the Daily Mirror. 

The UK Civil Aviation Authority said airlines must manage risks and keep the flight deck distraction-free, especially during critical parts of the flight. 

It comes as a flight attendant has shared one of the biggest issues plane passengers argue about – and she claims to experience the exact same fallout ‘without fail’ on every flight.

Lucy Wilson, from Arundel, West Sussex, currently works as cabin crew for Virgin Atlantic, and regularly shares lighthearted content about her role on TikTok.

In a recent video posted to her page, @lucywilsonnx, she revealed a ‘controversial’ seating preference is often the root cause of heated disagreements at 35,000 feet.

Read more