Can a mobile crash a plane?

[super jumbe]

Mobiles on planes
Yes, using your mobile phone mid-flight really could cause the plane to crash. The reason the Civil Aviation Authority, the British aviation regulator, prohibits their use on planes is the signal can interfere with the aircraft's communication and navigation systems. What happens is that, the more energy the phone uses to communicate with the mobile network 30,000ft below, the more likely its signal is to interfere with the plane's electronics.
What we are told less often is that the chance of that interference causing the plane to crash is minute - something you may have guessed the last time you furtively switched of your phone mid-flight, having forgotten to do so earlier. Some airlines are working on installing an independent network on the plane so your mobile can get a signal with minimal effort, reducing any risk. In the meantime, though, the authorities would rather err on the side of caution, so the rule stands.

[broony2005]

Yep, somehow i dont think anything you can get from the carphone warehouse will bring down a plane.
If there was much chance you would'nt be allowed to cary it on your person.

[irishbluestaffy]

sorry but iv seen lots of tv stuff with private jets and people using mobiles its the same as hospitals and iv seen the doctors and nurses use phones so hows that then

[autoelectrics]

Irishbluestaffy, as the above article states it, the risk is really minute, thus it is is just a matter of avoid any risk even if it is 1 to a million it is a matter of safety. Hth.

[Canker_Canison]

You mean like in petrol stations where a 'spark' might ignite fuel vapors.

But cars produce sparks as soon as the engine is turning over, not including the spark plugs on petrol engines as they are sealed. But my friends westfield used to spit fire & flames out the exhaust all the time...not a single fire in a petrol station though.

Add to this the Mythbusters episode where they tried their hardest to cause an explosion using a mobile phone & propane gas. Busted. They had to use a sparking device to ignite the gas.

All the wiring & electronics in planes are shielded. The only way a phone will bring one down is if it's packed with explosives... Or you club the pilot & co-pilot over the head with it.

[SouthernComfort]

Mobile phones are an inconvenience on a plane not a threat. Imagine sitting next to 30 of the above women discussing their 'problems' on a flight, 5 minutes you would be yelling "Allahu akbar" and reaching for the door. If they posed any threat you wouldn't be carrying them, I'm sure once they work out how to bill you, for using it, they will be fine.