Airplane cabins are chock-full of secret cameras, but they're not used to spy on passengers. Here's what they're for and where to find them.

Thomas PalliniJan 22, 2022, 18:38 IST

An Embraer E195-E2 demonstration aircraft nicknamed "profit hunter" at Dubai Airshow 2021.Thomas Pallini/Insider

Airplane cabins have cameras that are primarily used for safety and security reasons.
Cameras can be placed outside the cockpit so pilots are aware of what's going on outside their cockpit door.

It's not at all uncommon to see travelers taking pictures when aboard an airplane as the miracle of flight allows for some remarkable views of the planet.

A couple taking a photo onboard an airplane.Shutterstock.com

But travelers might be surprised to know that there are times when cameras are watching them during their aerial journeys.

Inside JetBlue Airways' new Airbus A321neoLR.Thomas Pallini/Insider

Many aircraft cabins are full of cameras that can be used for a variety of purposes, namely safety and security.

Flying JetBlue Airways from London to New York in Mint business class.Thomas Pallini/Insider

Here's why aircraft have — and sometimes need — cameras both inside the cabin and along their exteriors.

An Embraer E195-E2 demonstration aircraft nicknamed "profit hunter" at Dubai Airshow 2021.Thomas Pallini/Insider

Cameras that show the exterior of an aircraft are primarily tools for pilots and are mostly installed on large aircraft to aid pilots as they maneuver around airports.

Alex Davies / Business Insider

Airlines can opt to install exterior cameras on modern wide-body aircraft including but not limited to the Boeing 787 Dreamliner and Airbus A350 XWB that pilots can access through their cockpit display screens.

Thomas Pallini/Business Insider

Airlines can opt to install exterior cameras on modern wide-body aircraft including but not limited to the Boeing 787 Dreamliner and Airbus A350 XWB that pilots can access through their cockpit display screens.

The cameras help pilots properly navigate taxiways, especially during tight turns with which larger aircraft may have a more difficult time maneuvering.

Flying on an Emirates Boeing 777-300ER from Dubai to New York via Milan, Italy.Thomas Pallini/Insider

Cameras can be placed on the tail of aircraft as well as near the landing gear in the nose of the aircraft, and are essential equipment for behemoth aircraft including the Airbus A380.

An Emirates Airbus A380.Arnold Aaron/Shutterstock.com

Cameras can be placed on the tail of aircraft as well as near the landing gear in the nose of the aircraft, and are essential equipment for behemoth aircraft including the Airbus A380.

Passengers also benefit from exterior cameras as they will often have access to them through their in-flight entertainment systems, giving them another option to look outside rather than through the aircraft windows.

Flying on an Emirates A380 from New York to Dubai.Thomas Pallini/Insider

Passengers also benefit from exterior cameras as they will often have access to them through their in-flight entertainment systems, giving them another option to look outside rather than through the aircraft windows.

Cameras primarily let passengers have the same view as their pilots on takeoff and landing, when the runway is directly ahead of the airplane.

Flying on an Emirates A380 from New York to Dubai.Thomas Pallini/Insider

Exterior cameras, however, often prove to be useless at high altitudes and while flying over water.

Flying on an Emirates A380 from New York to Dubai.Thomas Pallini/Insider

Top-down cameras can provide clearer images of the ground below but forward-facing cameras may just show blue skies and clouds.

Flying on Qatar Airways from Madrid, Spain to Doha, Qatar.Thomas Pallini/Insider

But airplane cameras aren't always facing outward. Some are used to look inward to the passenger cabin of an aircraft as flight attendants need to have a way to view their passengers.

Inside JetBlue Airways' new Airbus A321neoLR.Thomas Pallini/Insider

But airplane cameras aren't always facing outward. Some are used to look inward to the passenger cabin of an aircraft as flight attendants need to have a way to view their passengers.

JetBlue Airways used cameras to solve a problem on one of its newest aircraft, the Airbus A321neoLR that’s used on its flights between New York and London, as well as some flights between New York and Los Angeles.

Flying JetBlue Airways from London to New York in Mint business class.Thomas Pallini/Insider

JetBlue Airways used cameras to solve a problem on one of its newest aircraft, the Airbus A321neoLR that’s used on its flights between New York and London, as well as some flights between New York and Los Angeles.

Flight attendants sitting in the jumpseat of the forward galley didn't initially have a clear line of sight throughout the Mint business class cabin that stretches as far as 12 rows back on some JetBlue aircraft.

Flying JetBlue Airways from London to New York in Mint business class.Thomas Pallini/Insider

Flight attendants sitting in the jumpseat of the forward galley didn't initially have a clear line of sight throughout the Mint business class cabin that stretches as far as 12 rows back on some JetBlue aircraft.

The solution, to ensure that flight attendants could see their passengers during takeoff and landing, was a camera accessible through the flight attendant control panel.

Inside JetBlue Airways' new Airbus A321neoLR.Thomas Pallini/Insider

The solution, to ensure that flight attendants could see their passengers during takeoff and landing, was a camera accessible through the flight attendant control panel.

There's no need for the cameras once the flight is in the air as flight attendants can keep an eye on their passengers while they work and move around the cabin.

Flying JetBlue Airways from London to New York in Mint business class.Thomas Pallini/Insider

Cameras also help maintain cockpit security by allowing pilots to see outside the cockpit door without having to open it, as doing so would jeopardize the security of the flight deck.

An Embraer E195-E2 demonstration aircraft nicknamed "profit hunter" at Dubai Airshow 2021.Thomas Pallini/Insider

Cameras also help maintain cockpit security by allowing pilots to see outside the cockpit door without having to open it, as doing so would jeopardize the security of the flight deck.

Cockpit cameras typically focus on the space immediately outside the cockpit door and not on the aircraft cabin.

An Embraer E195-E2 demonstration aircraft nicknamed "profit hunter" at Dubai Airshow 2021.Thomas Pallini/Insider

Embraer's E195-E2 demonstration aircraft, for example, has the cockpit camera system set up to show potential customers.

An Embraer E195-E2 demonstration aircraft nicknamed "profit hunter" at Dubai Airshow 2021.Thomas Pallini/Insider

Pilots can easily identify themselves when returning from using the lavatory, for example.

An Embraer E195-E2 demonstration aircraft nicknamed "profit hunter" at Dubai Airshow 2021.Thomas Pallini/Insider

Otherwise, only a small peephole lets pilots see through the reinforced cockpit door.

An Embraer E195-E2 demonstration aircraft nicknamed "profit hunter" at Dubai Airshow 2021.Thomas Pallini/Insider

But not all aircraft have cockpit cameras as their installation is at the discretion of the airline.

An Embraer E195-E2 demonstration aircraft nicknamed "profit hunter" at Dubai Airshow 2021.Thomas Pallini/Insider

On the inaugural flight of Breeze Airways in May, for example, the camera monitor in the cockpit was inoperable. Cameras are merely an additional layer of security of which not all airlines have to adopt.

The inaugural flight of David Neeleman's Breeze Airways.Thomas Pallini/Insider

On the inaugural flight of Breeze Airways in May, for example, the camera monitor in the cockpit was inoperable. Cameras are merely an additional layer of security of which not all airlines have to adopt.

Most onboard cameras are discreetly hidden and most travelers won't even realize that they are there.

An Embraer E195-E2 demonstration aircraft nicknamed "profit hunter" at Dubai Airshow 2021.Thomas Pallini/Insider

But especially on aircraft that can seat around 500 people, including an Airbus A380, cameras help the flight and cabin crews maintain situational awareness during the flight.

Emirates' refurbished Airbus A380 at Dubai Airshow 2021.Thomas Pallini/Insider

But especially on aircraft that can seat around 500 people, including an Airbus A380, cameras help the flight and cabin crews maintain situational awareness during the flight.

Cameras can also be found on aircraft with no passengers at all.

Touring the Emirates SkyCargo operation in Dubai.Thomas Pallini/Insider

Boeing 777 Freighter aircraft flying for Emirates' air cargo division, Emirates SkyCargo, have exterior and interior cameras that can be used to monitor cargo, including while it's being loaded and offloaded from the aircraft.

Touring the Emirates SkyCargo operation in Dubai.Thomas Pallini/Insider

Boeing 777 Freighter aircraft flying for Emirates' air cargo division, Emirates SkyCargo, have exterior and interior cameras that can be used to monitor cargo, including while it's being loaded and offloaded from the aircraft.

Pilots can view nearly the entire process without having to leave the comfort of the aircraft.

Touring the Emirates SkyCargo operation in Dubai.Thomas Pallini/Insider

Travelers may also find cameras at their seats if flying on aircraft with seat-back entertainment displays.

Emirates' refurbished Airbus A380 at Dubai Airshow 2021.Thomas Pallini/Insider

Much like a tablet, some of the screens may have a forward-facing camera aimed directly at a passenger.

Emirates' refurbished Airbus A380 at Dubai Airshow 2021.Thomas Pallini/Insider

But, according to CNN, airlines seldom use these seat-back cameras and passengers shouldn't worry about having to be spied on.

Emirates' refurbished Airbus A380 at Dubai Airshow 2021.Thomas Pallini/Insider

Flight crews aren't constantly utilizing the cameras found on aircraft but they do help to fill the gaps when needed, especially as aircraft have grown in size over the year and incidents of in-flight violence have plagued the aviation industry.

Emirates' refurbished Airbus A380 at Dubai Airshow 2021.Thomas Pallini/Insider

Flight crews aren't constantly utilizing the cameras found on aircraft but they do help to fill the gaps when needed, especially as aircraft have grown in size over the year and incidents of in-flight violence have plagued the aviation industry.

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Airplane cabins are chock-full of secret cameras, but they're not used to spy on passengers. Here's what they're for and where to find them.

It's not at all uncommon to see travelers taking pictures when aboard an airplane as the miracle of flight allows for some remarkable views of the planet.

But travelers might be surprised to know that there are times when cameras are watching them during their aerial journeys.

Many aircraft cabins are full of cameras that can be used for a variety of purposes, namely safety and security.

Here's why aircraft have — and sometimes need — cameras both inside the cabin and along their exteriors.

Cameras that show the exterior of an aircraft are primarily tools for pilots and are mostly installed on large aircraft to aid pilots as they maneuver around airports.

Airlines can opt to install exterior cameras on modern wide-body aircraft including but not limited to the Boeing 787 Dreamliner and Airbus A350 XWB that pilots can access through their cockpit display screens.

The cameras help pilots properly navigate taxiways, especially during tight turns with which larger aircraft may have a more difficult time maneuvering.

Cameras can be placed on the tail of aircraft as well as near the landing gear in the nose of the aircraft, and are essential equipment for behemoth aircraft including the Airbus A380.

Passengers also benefit from exterior cameras as they will often have access to them through their in-flight entertainment systems, giving them another option to look outside rather than through the aircraft windows.

Cameras primarily let passengers have the same view as their pilots on takeoff and landing, when the runway is directly ahead of the airplane.

Exterior cameras, however, often prove to be useless at high altitudes and while flying over water.

Top-down cameras can provide clearer images of the ground below but forward-facing cameras may just show blue skies and clouds.

But airplane cameras aren't always facing outward. Some are used to look inward to the passenger cabin of an aircraft as flight attendants need to have a way to view their passengers.

JetBlue Airways used cameras to solve a problem on one of its newest aircraft, the Airbus A321neoLR that’s used on its flights between New York and London, as well as some flights between New York and Los Angeles.

Flight attendants sitting in the jumpseat of the forward galley didn't initially have a clear line of sight throughout the Mint business class cabin that stretches as far as 12 rows back on some JetBlue aircraft.

The solution, to ensure that flight attendants could see their passengers during takeoff and landing, was a camera accessible through the flight attendant control panel.

There's no need for the cameras once the flight is in the air as flight attendants can keep an eye on their passengers while they work and move around the cabin.

Cameras also help maintain cockpit security by allowing pilots to see outside the cockpit door without having to open it, as doing so would jeopardize the security of the flight deck.

Cockpit cameras typically focus on the space immediately outside the cockpit door and not on the aircraft cabin.

Embraer's E195-E2 demonstration aircraft, for example, has the cockpit camera system set up to show potential customers.

Pilots can easily identify themselves when returning from using the lavatory, for example.

Otherwise, only a small peephole lets pilots see through the reinforced cockpit door.

But not all aircraft have cockpit cameras as their installation is at the discretion of the airline.

On the inaugural flight of Breeze Airways in May, for example, the camera monitor in the cockpit was inoperable. Cameras are merely an additional layer of security of which not all airlines have to adopt.

Most onboard cameras are discreetly hidden and most travelers won't even realize that they are there.

But especially on aircraft that can seat around 500 people, including an Airbus A380, cameras help the flight and cabin crews maintain situational awareness during the flight.

Cameras can also be found on aircraft with no passengers at all.

Boeing 777 Freighter aircraft flying for Emirates' air cargo division, Emirates SkyCargo, have exterior and interior cameras that can be used to monitor cargo, including while it's being loaded and offloaded from the aircraft.

Pilots can view nearly the entire process without having to leave the comfort of the aircraft.

Travelers may also find cameras at their seats if flying on aircraft with seat-back entertainment displays.

Much like a tablet, some of the screens may have a forward-facing camera aimed directly at a passenger.

But, according to CNN, airlines seldom use these seat-back cameras and passengers shouldn't worry about having to be spied on.

Flight crews aren't constantly utilizing the cameras found on aircraft but they do help to fill the gaps when needed, especially as aircraft have grown in size over the year and incidents of in-flight violence have plagued the aviation industry.