Commercial airline pilot reveals why the plane feels like it's sinking after takeoff
Published on Aug 10, 2025 at 8:20 AM (UTC+4)
by Ben Thompson
Last updated on Aug 10, 2025 at 8:20 AM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Emma Matthews
This commercial airline pilot has revealed why the plane feels like it’s sinking after takeoff.
Have you ever had that sinking feeling shortly after a plane departs from the airport?
It’s enough to make even the most seasoned flyer feel a little queasy.
Captain Steve, a pilot and YouTuber, has explained why this happens.
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Commercial airline pilot explains why the plane feels like it’s sinking after takeoff
Very few people enjoy the feeling of a plane taking off.
It’s not uncommon for people to be gripping their armrests during this pivotal moment in a flight.
But then comes something just as unnerving – the feeling that the plane is dropping about a minute later.
Why does this happen?
YouTuber and commercial airline pilot Captain Steve had the answer.
“It’s because I’m retracting the flaps [on the wings],” he explained.
“Sometimes it’s because I’ve got what’s called a noise abatement procedure.
“Some high-density areas where rich people live, they’ll make a fuss and will want you to take off at a certain steep angle.
“And once you get over their houses, they want you to pull the power back.
“[The passengers] are in no peril at all.”
It’s not a nice experience, perhaps, but it should be of no concern to flyers.
“When I get to that point in the climb where I begin to retract the flaps, the power goes from takeoff power to climb-off power, which is a reduced power setting,” he continued.
“So you hear it first, you feel it a little bit in your seat.
“That’s an uncomfortable feeling, you think you’re dropping, but you’re actually accelerating.”
Getting an insight into the behind-the-scenes of an airplane
We’ve learned a lot from pilots over the years, including details that we passengers usually wouldn’t be privy to.
One pilot explained why anyone capable of driving a car would be able to fly a plane.
Another pilot lifted the lid on how much he earns each year, while a third divulged about a strict rest rule all pilots have to follow.
But some inside details passengers do get to hear – like when this Delta pilot made an unexpected announcement about getting home to his chickens.
Following stints at LadBible, The Sun, The New York Post, and the Daily Mail, Ben joined the team full-time in February 2025. In his role as Senior Content Writer, his sparkling copy, the ability to sniff out a good story at 100 paces, and a GSOH quickly led to him becoming an integral and invaluable member of the writing staff.
