Pilot explains real meaning behind plane ‘ding’ as there's a key 'purpose'

If you've been ready for takeoff while on a plane, already feeling a little anxious, and then heard the infamous plane ‘ding just before you’re due to leave the ground, it may unsettle you even more.

But one pilot has reassured nervous fliers that these noises are nothing to worry about, and that they’re just part and parcel of the plane procedure, and actually show that everything is going to plan.

Captain Steve joked that they’re not “random dings,” saying there is a “purpose” behind them.

He shared: “I chime the flight attendants three separate times during the flight on purpose. The first time is when we’re taxiing out and you’ll hear the announcement ‘flight attendants prepare for departure’.”

Steve continued: “Shortly after that, I’m cleared for takeoff, and when I’m cleared to go on the runway, and take off, I turn that no smoking sign on and off, and I give them a ding”.

That ding is their “final warning” because they need to “take a seat” before the plane takes off so that takeoff can be safe.

Steve then said that as he’s climbing up past “ten thousand feet,” he gives them another ding to let them know that it’s “safe to start the service”.

This is typically just before the seatbelt sign is turned off for passengers, too, but this depends on whether the plane is experiencing turbulence at this point, or not, as the seatbelt sign will always remain turned on when there is turbulence.

He’ll also give another ding when they’re preparing for landing to let them know, once more, to take their seats on the aircraft.

That happens when they’re coming “back through ten thousand feet” and the plane is getting closer and closer to being at its destination airport.

This way, they “know they’ve only got a few minutes to clean up” before landing, and they can make their way through the cabin with a bin bag to ensure that everything has been tidied away so when the next people boarding the flight get on, things are as clean as possible and they won’t have to spend ages cleaning it, potentially delaying the next flight.

People were confused, however, in the comments, with one complaining that there’s not a “dedicated ding button” and it’s the same as the “seatbelt sound”.

Another pilot responded: “Most aircraft have the no smoking sign installed already, since you actually needed it years and years ago. Now it’s not actually needed since smoking onboard is illegal, however, it would cost A LOT of money, and I mean A LOT to redesign the aircraft to remove this and just include a normal chime, sooo we just use what’s available to us!”

Someone praised Captain Steve’s videos, penning: “Everything you are explaining in these videos, I have always wondered and I just feel a lot better right now. All this knowledge has helped me with flying anxiety”.

One mum joked: “I told my son the first time he flew that it dinged everytime someone farted. Lol”.