Passengers watching plane’s speed during takeoff live is becoming popular

A video appeared on TikTok showing a passenger tracking the plane’s speed in real time using a smartphone app during takeoff. The video went viral on TikTok.

The video was posted by user @bevis999 and has been viewed more than 5.3 million times since it was first shared on August 20. The passenger used the Speedometer app to track the plane’s speed as it took off from London Stansted Airport in real time.

The caption under the video asked: “At what speed does a plane take off?”

The video begins with a hand holding a cellphone that displays the plane’s speed in miles per hour. The plane takes off at about seven miles per hour, taxiing down the runway, and then the speed quickly increases to double digits. As the plane gains speed, the numbers climb steadily, soon exceeding 100 miles per hour. At one point, the speed reaches about 140 miles per hour while the plane is still on the ground.

In the final moments of the video, as the plane begins to lift off the runway, the app shows it reaching a speed of 170 mph. The plane eventually reaches a speed of about 187 mph during takeoff, just before the video ends.

There were 180,148 flight arrivals recorded in the past 24 hours, FlightAware, a website that tracks live flights, said on Friday.

According to a December 2023 market study by Euromonitor International, a market research firm, travel is expected to reach “record levels” this year, with global tourism spending expected to reach $2 trillion.

While it is not known which aircraft was used on the Jet2.com flight seen in the popular clip, or whether the plane had a full passenger capacity, takeoff speed can vary depending on several factors.

In April, a pilot shared a video on Instagram showing the view from the cockpit of a Boeing plane taking off from the runway at maximum takeoff weight.

In the caption shared under the post, he wrote: “Taking off with a maximum takeoff weight of just over 410,000 kilograms (308,600 pounds), including 140,000 kilograms of jet fuel and close to 100,000 kilograms of cargo on board.

“I’m positioning a massive 747-400 (Boeing aircraft) at the start of Runway 25L — we’ll need every inch of that 3,800-meter (4,155-yard) runway today,” the caption continues.

The plane’s nose was raised as it reached a speed of 325 km/h (about 202 mph), and “within seconds the landing gear was off the ground.” The speed stabilized at about 352 km/h (about 219 mph) over the South China Sea.

“So cool”

TikTok users expressed their amazement at the speeds captured in the video, with one user, LisaD, noting, “I’ve always wondered about this.”

Some TikTok users commented on the factors that affect speed. One commenter, Alfie720s gt3x, wrote, “It depends on the plane and engines,” while Spanish Cinnamon Latte said, “It depends on the type of plane and the load.”

Other viewers expressed their fascination with the experience of taking off. The killer and she commented, “I do this every time. You must be as angry as I am.”

Meanwhile, suki16423 expressed general surprise, writing, “Wow, I knew this would be fast, but faster than I expected.”

For others, the captured moment was a reminder of the joy and excitement of air travel. User Kate commented, “I love takeoff! This video puts a smile on my face.” The original author replied, “I love the beginning! When they push you back into your seat!”

Another user, ᎠᎾᎷ, enthusiastically shared a similar experience, saying, “I love this feeling so much, it’s so cool.”

Newsweek reached out to the original author of the post for comment via TikTok. The video has not been independently verified.

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