iPhone survives fall from ill-fated Alaska Airlines flight

08 January 2024
It got sucked out of the plane at 16,000 feet (almost 5,000 m).

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  • ?
  • Anonymous
  • GAY
  • 21 Jan 2024

If it was found broken, then Apple would say "it was dropped on the plane the wrong way".

    • G
    • GOD
    • mE0
    • 16 Jan 2024

    But it obviously automatically called Emergency Services didn't it ?

      Anonymous, 12 Jan 2024As others have noted, it fell on grass and it seems those n... morenot only that, the device is in unlocked state. so it is either staged.

        This is complete and utter BS

          • ?
          • Anonymous
          • mP1
          • 12 Jan 2024

          you have to suffer, 09 Jan 2024i think this is just scripted to gain attention and iphone ... moreAs others have noted, it fell on grass and it seems those nearby branches especially if there're trees there we don't see, would have helped it to survive the fall too.

          Cool story, but I have my doubts having often seen iPhones with the screen cracked too.

            • M
            • Marek
            • nxd
            • 11 Jan 2024

            dos, 09 Jan 2024Yeah, a quick calculation puts the terminal velocity at alm... moreWhat do you assume the drag coefficient to be? And why would you assume it would fall face first?
            I would venture that it's likelier it would fall side first as that is the more drag-reducing way.. And after a long fall I'd assume that's the likelier way to travel through the air.

              • ?
              • Anonymous
              • t7@
              • 11 Jan 2024

              Fake no lock id? Eitherway if it landed on grass or soft sandy areas then not suprised if it survives.

                Publicity stunt. Conveniently open on a boarding pass, with no Face ID set up. Some people will believe anything.

                  Glad something (either the case or the bushes) cushioned its fall, otherwise it'd be someone's 1,000 dollar mistake

                  Always remember to wear protection.

                    • F
                    • FT
                    • fxT
                    • 10 Jan 2024

                    nicodomsam, 10 Jan 2024I would really want to know which iPhone series this is and... moreNo one has covered what kind of cable head was stuck inside (Lightning? USB-C?), safe to say it's iPhone 14 Pro Max and above for now.

                      I would really want to know which iPhone series this is and the other phone reported that also got recovered.

                      Can someone share that info please.

                        Anonymous, 09 Jan 2024It fell 16000ft. With a case. On soft soil with grass. And ... morewe need 10 jolts of copium for vas, stat

                          It fell on the side of the road which in this case is dirt and grass. Had it fallen on to concrete, like the road itself, then the outcome would more than likely be different.

                            • ?
                            • Anonymous
                            • k@B
                            • 10 Jan 2024

                            eh air/wind and eventually grass will cushion the fall and make it no different whether u dropped it from a couple of feet or 16,000

                              Good night, very interesting story.

                                • d
                                • dos
                                • LiP
                                • 09 Jan 2024

                                Marek , 09 Jan 2024Well, no, it'd be more likely something akin to 65 m/s... moreYeah, a quick calculation puts the terminal velocity at almost certainly below 65km/h (not m/s!) and if it falls consistently face first it could be quite a bit lower. 5000m drop sounds impressive but it's probably no more risky that a drop from 20m.

                                  TPAA, 09 Jan 2024What phone case was used?Probably that 2000 dollar case of last week that really pays off in drop testing.

                                    • .
                                    • .alpha
                                    • 4}u
                                    • 09 Jan 2024

                                    Ok, so I was the first person that raised the unlock question yesterday. I have went to the original X post to exam things further and I can calling this story BS.

                                    1. iPhone is unlocked which could only mean the user set the phone to never auto-lock. Never heard of anyone that do that

                                    2. He said the phone was found in airplane mode but that's not what's on the screen. The phone is not in airplane mode but rather no signal SOS mode. The phone is a 14 or 15 Pro Max so eSIM only on the US model. Unless the eSIM module is damaged in the fall, this phone doesn't have a data plan. 3rd photo have multiple traffic lights and buildings in the background so 99% chance there is cell signal

                                    3. He posted a photo of the torn charging cable but if you look closely, the stub that's attached to the phone is too short to be a connector head, meaning the "snap" happened midway through the connector head. That's a super rare failure point

                                      • T
                                      • TPAA
                                      • pJ%
                                      • 09 Jan 2024

                                      What phone case was used?

                                        Ami, 09 Jan 2024I know the phone was not locked, that cannot be true. Are w... moreLike i said, phones lock themselves after some time so even if he was using it, it would have automatically locked itself

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