Paul Rudd calls flight mode ‘nonsense,’ sparks debate on flight behavior

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Actor Paul Rudd has sparked a light-hearted debate about airplane etiquette after calling airplane mode “nonsense” during a recent podcast appearance.
Rudd made the comments during an appearance on the May 28 episode of Jake Shane’s Therapuss podcast.
During a discussion about general aviation rules, Rudd questioned a few instructions that passengers are regularly given before take-off and landing, including putting down tray tables, returning seats to the upright position and switching phones to airplane mode.
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“I think that’s all bullshit,” Rudd said.
When Shane asked specifically about airplane mode, Rudd doubled down.
Rudd, pictured left, sparked controversy over flight habits after calling airplane mode “nonsense” during an appearance on Jake Shane’s podcast. (Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images; Jason Armond/Los Angeles Times)
“I know it’s nonsense,” he said.
Shane replied, “I only put it on airplane mode because it won’t work either way, so I might as well save the battery.”
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Rudd acknowledged that thinking, but suggested he believed the law stemmed from concerns about radio waves interfering with airplane communications systems.
Rudd may have questioned the law – but the Federal Aviation Administration is clear. It requires passengers to put devices on airplane mode or disable cellular communications while in flight.

While discussing standard flight procedures, Rudd (pictured) questioned instructions such as placing tray tables, returning seats to the upright position and switching phones to airplane mode, calling it “all nonsense.” (Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images)
Aviation experts say the setting helps prevent cell phone signals from interfering with cockpit communications with pilots’ headsets, as Fox News Digital previously reported.
The conversation also touched on another long-running travel debate: Should passengers get up as soon as the plane lands?
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Shane admitted he is among the passengers who get out of their seats when the plane lands – a practice Rudd defends.
“I think it’s OK,” Rudd said.

The podcast discussion also turned to the long-running debate about whether passengers should stop immediately after their flight lands. (Stock)
Fox News Digital previously reported that the behavior has divided travelers, with some people citing leg cramps and tight connections, while others see it as impatience or inconsideration.
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“For safety reasons, it’s best to stay seated unless there’s room to comfortably walk,” Diane Gottsman, a Texas-based national behavioral health expert, told Fox News Digital.
“Walking into the hallway and trying to push is a very straightforward practice,” he added.
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In addition to the discussion about flight habits, Rudd also shared his favorite memory with wife Julie Yaeger during the podcast.
The actress recalled a spontaneous trip to Atlantic City while Yaeger was pregnant, which unexpectedly turned into what she described as a beautiful night.

Rudd also recalled a surprise trip to Atlantic City with his wife, Julie Yaeger, pictured above with him, when she was pregnant. He said it turned out to be a perfect night. (Mike Coppola/Getty Images)
The couple got a hotel suite, scored tickets to see the band Boston and won thousands of dollars playing video poker.
“It just kept getting better and better,” Rudd said.
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Rudd and Yaeger have been married since 2003 and have two children, Jack and Darby.
The actor’s latest film, “Power Ballad,” opens in theaters on May 29.
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Fox News Digital has reached out to Rudd’s representatives for further comment.



