If Planes Are Safe Then Why Do Passengers Clap When They Have Landed?

[bluefortress]

I have always had a fear of flying and have avoided it for ages. However on 2 occasions when I have travelled by plane all the passengers have clapped upon landing. 

If planes are expected to land safely then why all the clapping?

[Maydup]

I think it's just as a thank you for a safe flight and smooth landing. In the same way that people thank the bus driver when you get off the bus. 

[curlyfries81]

There is always one cheeser on the plane who wants to start a clap-a-thon when the plane touches down and our flight ✈️ to the Dominican 🇩🇴 on Christmas 🎄 Eve was no exception. Having said that our poor pilot got called out that morning because the other one phoned in sick. He was having to fly back through the night with the same crew and then they were set to hang around at whichever airport 🛫 they were flying to for most of Christmas Day for a bus to take them back to Manchester.  We were asked to "spare a thought" for them all. 

[1ozzy]

Good question.

Why don't passengers clap taxi, uber, bus drivers etc?

Lots more people die from traffic accidents than airline accidents🤔

[Canary42]

///Lots more people die from traffic accidents than airline accidents🤔///

Exactly - that's why they don't clap...

[barry1010]

We do thank taxi and bus drivers. When would we clap a bus driver? Every time it stops or when we get off?

[Cloverjo]

I've never heard passengers clapping a pilot on landing. 

[Canary42]

I think it depends on the airline - I've only experienced it on Turkish Airlines (that was 50 years ago mind).

[10ClarionSt]

If you've ever flown to Malta, then you will hear everyone clapping on landing at Luqa. It's one of the windiest airports and landing is quite an experience!

[davebro3]

I think I've only seen it once - a tricky landing at Liverpool with a strong & gusty side wind.

[barry1010]

I've only experienced it once - that was when the plane landed shortly after very bad turbulence.  I think people were clapping because they were relieved it was over.

[youngmafbog]

Never heard of it and I've had some bumby flights and landings, even hit by lightening once.  Not a peep (Apart from the screams on the last one)

[Peter Pedant]

if planes are safe.... then why do they crash

[DDIL]

I fly a lot and have only heard it once and that was after a rather nasty landing and flight due to the weather.

[ubasses]

I have only seen it 3 times, 1 Turkey, 2 Northern Cyprus, and the 3rd was when we diverted to a military airport in Italy due to  bad weather (no facilities there). When we finally arrived in Corfu and saw a plane at the end of the runay with it' nose in the sea our flight crew practically got a standing ovation.

[davebro3]

Anyway - what has the clapping on a single flight got to do with aviation's overall safety record? Complete non-sequitur.

[Peter Pedant]

about the pilot and chrissy

I worked christmas eve groningen and travelled back that night to dear old blighty oh to do yet more  unpaid on call

and a middle manager said "well we paid you didnt we" another  middle manager rang and apologised and said it was rude even by Dutch standards

[Peter Pedant]

what has the clapping on a single flight got to do  .....

I thought this was clapping with a single hand.... very  zennish. unimaginable for AB

what has the clapping on a single flight got to do with aviation's overall safety record? Complete non-sequitur.

well we are talking about time sequence

and Lindy's Law

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lindy_effect

a thousand screams of "hoo lindy foo?" from posters

I think it is that if something lasts for n years ( not life) it is very litely to last for n/3 more

[Peter Pedant]

so if you flip a coin and get 20 heads and then 20 more, the 41st flip is likely to H and the coin biassed. Bayes comes into this.

Hungarians routinely clap on landing and ay did not ask poncily, "is that because one has finally made it?"