The Debate On Clapping When An Aircraft Lands 

I’m a flight attendant and I’ve noticed the trend that it happens mostly when big groups are travelling together or they’re coming back home/going to a special place. In my experience it happens when I do the “welcome to (destination)” i personally don’t mind, I find it cute

I personally don't clap upon landing. But I remember coming into Heathrow from Lusaka in 2007 we had to circle London multiple times after a 10-hour flight because we were in a queue of 8 to 10 aircraft waiting to land. Many people clapped upon touch down. The female pilot was very reassuring regarding the fuel situation and may have got us bumped up a place or two in the queue to ensure we didn't get too low on fuel. Perhaps that contributed to the clapping mood of some people.

I fly with Aerolineas Argentinas often and on every single flight, domestic and international people ALWAYS CLAP!. I love it. As a person who understands how hard it is to land a plane, clapping is to congratulate a pilot on completing a hard task which only very few in the world can pull off.

I'm a flight attendant for Spirit Airlines. I can tell you from experience that people always clap upon landing in Puerto Rico. It's a very patriotic group that claps out of joy for making it back to their homeland. Clapping also tends to happen more often in the Caribbean and Latin American market than on domestic routes.

When i was young and flew with my parents I remembered clapping when landing safely. Now I thank the crew in silence while landing and thank them when i disembark. Like I do in a taxi or whatever.. just be thankful and kind to each other on any occasion. small gesture and makes another person happy. How hard can it be? Love your channel!

There's nothing wrong with clapping. It's to congratulate the crew on a successful landing. Flying a plane isn't easy. If you get all worked up over people clapping I think you're the one with the problem.

I'm surprised this is even considered a topic of debate. If people want to clap when an aircraft lands, clap. If they don't, don't. Really no problem either way.

I think that clapping after landing is good for the pilots mental health. As a glider pilot I would be more than happy if someone clapped after landing:)

Think it's a thank you to the flight crew to show appreciation of a flight which has been particularly difficult and choppy on the approach.

I've witnessed applause when the flight FINALLY departs after being delayed for one reason or another (which may or may not be within the crew's control - one a recent flight, the pilots literally had to turn the plane off and on again to get the flight systems to behave - I wonder if Airbus technical support told them to do that) I also have a friend/colleague who is also into aviation and is very excitable. We both hold PPLs and have made many flights in small planes (Cessnas, etc.), and the closest I've witnessed to applauding on landing was on a private flight when he yelled out "woohoo" on touchdown

If you don't like clapping you simply need to ignore it

The only time I clapped after landing was after a turbulent night-time landing in a thunderstorm after a 6-hour flight. That was a genuinely scary landing, and I have never been so glad to feel the brakes of a plane come on. Edit: I might also have clapped after a crosswind landing in fog so thick I'm not sure how it was permitted. In general, if a landing is particularly difficult, I'll clap. Otherwise, I probably won't.

The only time I would ever clap is if it is clear that the Pilots’ skills were tested to their limit during flight or landing, whether by accident recovery (such is the case with the Southwest example mentioned) or extreme weather, or in the case of a retirement flight where it is the Pilot’s last landing. It’s cringe to say the least when passengers do it on a normal flight, but in cases where it is earned it can be a welcome change (and morale booster for the flight crew).

Clapping on RyanAir makes alot of sense and it's good that they have it pre-recorded 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

The flights I've been on with clapping came when their was a significant flight delay or severe turbulents during the flight.

First experienced clapping in 1970 upon landing in San Juan Puerto Rico at 4am on a Trans Caribbean Airways DC8-61. Totally blew my mind!

I don't see the point. It would make a safe landing seem more remarkable than it is and so make those nervous of flying even more nervous.

In Germany it's easy - business travelers don't clap + tourists do. I don't clap. I just thank the cabin crew personally when exiting. I think that works better. I also thank the cashier in the supermarket. And I also don't clap there.

I think applauding when a plane lands happens when an aircraft lands after a inaugural flight, a first/last landing of a pilot, and after an emergency landing. Great video! How about a big round of applause! 👏👏👏

clapping is a civil method of showing appreciation and even a happy child claps in joy therz nothing wrong with it

Frankly, I really don't understand why some people get literally upset/offended when some other people choose to clap. I personally don't clap, but I certainly don't freak out when others around me do.

To fly in a metal tube 500 mph 35,000 feet above the ground and make it back down is something to applaud. Not just the pilots but also the aircraft engineers and engine makers deserve an applause.

I don't clap but I don't "hate" when others clap. Let people do whatever they won't, it's not affecting anybody so let them clap! There's too much "hate" in the world already.

I don't like the idea of when people clap IMMEDIATELY after touchdown, it's premature, many accidents have happened after touchdown and before they actually stop

I clap if others clap, I see nothing wrong with it. I’ve experienced it more in the US

I have never clapped. The only flights I have seen people clap was when it was very bumpy on approach.

Clapping after a Ryainair landing not resulting in a broken spine seems appropriate.

I’ve been on flight to Mexico and Vegas where people have clapped and cheered…not for the landing but because of the destination/vacation starting. If we clap for routine landings than I’m going to booo for the bad ones too! 😜

If i don't notice something out of the ordinary no I won't. But when I was in a 747-8 landing in Bangkok and there was a 20knots crosswind in the middle of heavy rain and gusts, hell yeah I clapped. They earned their paycheck and it was butter considering the conditions.

I'm part of the "I don't really care" group. I don't clap myself but I wouldn't really care if anybody else claps even if they were sitting beside me. If they're happy doing that then so be it, at most it's only a very brief and minor inconvenience. People should learn to just mind their own business and not always have stick up their behind. It's not illegal to clap and it is also not harming anyone.

The only flight I’ve been on where everyone clapped was landing at Madeira with very strong crosswinds. Plane was rocking about everywhere for the whole approach but they still landed very smoothly

People clapped after a few flights I was on...... At first the landing was a little rough, so I was ok. But the other flights were fine. People still decided to clap. I was like, really?......

Oh my god… do you clap when you pull into a parking lot for work ? No? There is your answer

Never mind clapping after a safe landing with Ryanair, we usually go into a thankful trance chanting to every god that ever existed and will ever exist.

I would clap on an aircraft if there was a serious emergency and we landed safely or if there was an inaugural route.

Clapping when landing in Dominican Republic it's a must 😂😂😂

I remember flying from France to Israel and being surprised by people clapping

From my experience passengers clap when the landing is butter

Well if you landed at Toncontin then clapping is líke a must

It’s more of an American thing to clap when you get on the break run. Originally it seemed more like just an enthusiast thing, but it’s spread. I’ll clap if others start to because it feels expected

Seriously, what is the problem with clapping upon landing? I'm from Israel and went to Dubai for a few days and people were clapping. Is it really necessary to argue about it?

Clapping is the dumbest thing. Hate when people do it.

I thought people clapped when the plane was in an emergency and the plane made it on the ground safely.

wWhen i was a kid in the late 90s and early 2000s people clapped on the holiday flights. Then it died down and honestly i havent heard a clapping in over 10 years now.

I flew from LA to Hawaii and when we got close to Honolulu we had a crosswind. We did a one wheel touch first then the rest of the plane slammed down. Everyone clapped and laughed together. However flying back to LA we had a very smooth flight and landing no clapping at all. Maybe because it was 5:45am..🤔

We debate on clapping?? Seriously society should take a good hard look at itself

I personally think it's acceptable to clap on landings, although I never do so as I don't even clap much at all, even at shows.

If you clap you shouldn’t be on a flight.

People who have an issue with clapping after a plane lands have a problem with everything in life

I clap when the pilot makes a smooth landing

Personally I don't care either way. I will clap if I knew it was a hard landing, high winds or bad storm and it's a good landing. Otherwise I usually have my headphones in and just waiting to leave

Clapping is soo cringe.

Only time I was clapped after landing was the pre-solo test when my instructor clapped and told me to let him out and to go fly one circuit and taxi back in. I may have been clapped after some more recent flights but between concentrating on the landing roll and the reinforced cockpit door you really can't notice if anybody is clapping or not.

Flights need more clapping and good vibes. Remove the excessive alcohol would be top on my list of things to ban.

It's not something I particularly like, but I wouldn't mind if it was a particularly difficult flight for example

I don't clap when I land, but I do make it a point to let the cabin crew know that they're doing a great job, and I meet the pilots and thank them.

I remember when I was 10 or something, I was landing in Maputo (FQMA) from Quelimane (FQQL) that we were put into a holding pattern for 30 minutes or more because the President was in the aerospace. This was around the time of the crash of TM407 and we were on the same model (Embraer 190) so naturally the people were a little nervous. When the plane landed almost every passenger clapped and you could feel the relief of the people. I think clapping isn't necessarily bad, especially when you are not a plane nerd and if you are afraid of flying (which was most likely the case of my fellow passengers)

I think the clapping is for a smooth landing or the people are coming home they had a long flight

i think every time ive flown people have clapped on landing i am from canada tho

We always clap when with Ryanair, mainly in relief the flight is over.

Can’t see why anyone would be annoyed by others clapping for 10 seconds.

The only time I was on a plane and many clapped on landing was only on a long haul flight from Sydney to LA

I don't see the negative but you essentially are applauding for someone doing their job.

I never understood why nobody clapped on landing on some flights and then many, or all, passengers clapped on others. I'd have to agree that clapping is more prominent when landing in sunny Caribbean destinations. On the flip side, you've got flight attendants doing welcome dances to music in Asian airports such as in South Korea pre-flight....sometimes with mascots.

I am a frequent flyer snob who always flies in business or first class. I cringe when people clap. They are always the ones in the coach seats.

I find it silly, but I really don't have a strong opinion. Doesn't affect me, so if people want to do it then they're obviously free to do so.

I clapped on Air 2000 Boeing 757. I clap on take off as well.

In scandinavia we do it on certain charter flights. Skiathos is one of those...

I’m romanian and i never clap. But a lot of people does when I flew. Could be Austrian Air, Ryanair, FlyDubai,Klm.

Why can't I clap when an aircraft takes off too? ;)

All shiny side up landings are good.

At my first time of flying with Garuda 737 classic from Jakarta to Bali, of course i didin't clap after touchdown because at the time i didin't know about aviation, so i am only enjoy, relax and sleepy during the flight until the aircraft descend to the airport and after landing, no passengers are clapping.

As an American my default is not to clap but if others clap I’ll clap. When I landed in Italy people didn’t clap so I didn’t clap but when I landed on Poland people clapped so I clapped.

I don't clap when a plane lands. Then again, I have been associated with the aviation industry for several decades. To me, a landing, while it is the most difficult part of the flight, should be routine for the aircrew. The only time I would think it would be acceptable to clap is if there was a malfunction or some other difficulty in flight that the aircrew handled well and got us back on the ground safely.

When i drive with an uber i also say thanks when reaching my Destination so why not on planes

It depends on the airline, and where the pilot is from.

The only reason why this video is twice the length of the regular ones is becuz of the sponsorship

They just flew a giant metal cylinder through the air at thousands of feet around the world with hundreds of people and god what else on board. That’s pretty deserving of a clap to me.

Clapping is pretty normal when you come through a pretty turbulent flight alive. At least that’s the perception of passengers. Peer pressure carries the rest.

I personally don't clap on landings, and I don't have any problems with people clapping, honestly people should care less.

Clap when it's a greaser 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

In making about 240 flights in my life on 6 continents, I only experienced clapping once when I flew from NY to Santo Domingo. Why is there any debate? It was no big deal to me. However, I will say that if anyone is going to clap, why do it right when the wheels touch down and not when the reverse thrusters have shut down....a time when you REALLY know the plane has made it safely?

I think pilots love to hear that. That's the only thing missing on this video

You really went overboard with the ads on this one. I would recommend calming down on those.

People who clap when the plane lands should be forced to live underground.

1:50 as a acandinavian we always clap when the plane lands

Well… after a great recovery from a disaster or difficult landing I could join in clapping as a sense of appreciation and joy of surviving would certainly set in. But applauding pilots for a routine landing, for just doing their job? Nah. It’s like everyone clapping when I solve their computer problems. I would be tired if it. And I guess so are the pilots.

I thought it was just an American thing.

I’m flying to Florida in July. I will clap when we land but only because the trip has been delayed 3 times and has been booked for almost 3 years now

I'm a nervous flyer and clapping, especially after strong turbulence seems the most natural thing ever, as a thanks to the crew who brought you down safely.

Do they also clap when they're in a car and it comes to a stop?

I don’t clap, but I wouldn’t mind someone else clapping. It’s not like it’s gonna last for eternity..

I don't clap during an airplane landing or a train ride when the train has reached the station, not even when the streetcar has reached the stop. 🙄🤣

Another reason, and I've started the clapping off a few times. Its when the flight is right bumpy with a lot of turbulence and many people ,me included think we are going to crash here, the pilots don't seem to have good control in this terrible weather. The clapping is a relief that we made it, without dying. This a mainly the reason, I can tell you.

For people who are nervous about flying ok I get that angle. For the people saying it’s congratulating the crew for a safe landing/journey. It’s their job to make sure you get to your destination safely. Your clapping because they did their job. Clap for the person who made your coffee or dinner and see what kind of reaction you get.

I don’t think that it is a good idea to clap as I expect the plane to land safely. If you do want to clap that is your decision.

There shall be no clapping, ever!

Why not. Don’t take everything for granted.

Did yall run out of ideas to resort to this? Smh

At wheels up on Finnair leaving Leningrad after a week in Russia, everyone clapped when we were airborne. Happy to be returning to freedom in Helsinki. This was back in the old Soviet Union days. Also, on the last and successful landing after fog forced us to do several go arounds landing in Houston. They can be very unnerving when you cannot see anything out the window and suddenly surge back into the sky but still in the fog. Completely disorienting.