Airlines Warn That 5G Is Scrambling Aircraft Altitude Readings

Pilots are struggling to accurately determine the altitude of their aircraft due to interference from 5G signals

Airlines warn that 5G communications networks are affecting the radio altimeters that pilots rely on to determine an aircraft’s altitude and that filters to remove such interference may not be available anytime soon.

The Telegraph reports: The International Air Transport Association (IATA) said that existing filters to remove 5G interference are only partially effective, warning that a new system may not be ready until 2035.

While pilots have other ways of determining their altitude, the loss of the radio altimeter – which bounces radio signals off the ground – poses a safety risk in certain phases of flight.

Nick Careen, IATA’s safety chief, said interference is most prevalent at lower altitudes in urban areas. That makes aircraft vulnerable as they approach landing and has forced some to abort landings at the last minute.

Mr Careen said: “The biggest area of concern is around the airport. Altitude can be confirmed in other ways, but if it occurs on final approach, you will more than likely have to pull out of the landing and reset.”

He added that interference has already led to several “go-around” incidents, in which aircraft pull up rather than land.

While older 4G phone signals did not interfere with aircraft communications, the switch to 5G has brought the two closer together in the radio spectrum, increasing the risk of interference through a process known as “bleeding”.

‘Problem for the next 10 years’

Radio altimeters use the 4.2 GHz to 4.4 GHz frequency band, while the 5G C-band operates just below that range, from 3.4 GHz to 4.2 GHz.

Mr Careen said the situation could be eased by “telecoms companies making sure that they have their towers pointing in a direction away from the airport and lowering the frequency so it’s not right up against the frequency we are operating in”.

Of course, the complete stop of all 5G technology would be the best solution not only for the aviation industry, but for the entire Earth and humanity.

yogaesoteric
January 22, 2026