217

"I found a phone sitting on the side of the road that had apparently fallen 16,000 feet," Bates said in a video recorded for social media Sunday.

He said he was "a little skeptical" when he first found it, thinking perhaps it may have been tossed out of a passing vehicle. But the phone wasn't locked, so he opened it up, he said.

"It was in airplane mode with a travel confirmation and baggage claim for Alaska 1282," Bates said. "So, I had to go call the NTSB."

all 27 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old

It’s kinda shitty that ABC ran a picture with the recipient’s name unobscured…

[-] merde@sh.itjust.works 58 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

the fact that "the phone wasn't locked" surprised me more than its surviving the fall 🙃 then i realized the discrepancy. i should stop reading posts in privacy communities 🙂

[-] n3m37h@lemmy.world 17 points 2 years ago

Some people are sane and use cases and glass screen protectors. Phones dont have a great enough terminal velocity to damage the internals. People get cases and throw band new iphones out of apartment buildings

[-] lolcatnip@reddthat.com 23 points 2 years ago

I don't feel the need to get a case that would allow my phone to survive an incident that I wouldn't survive.

[-] n3m37h@lemmy.world 6 points 2 years ago

I want evidence of my gruesome death to be posted online for internet clout

[-] idunnololz@lemmy.world 1 points 2 years ago
[-] derpgon@programming.dev 12 points 2 years ago

Also if it landed on grass or fell through thin tree branches, there is almost no chance of damage.

[-] WHYAREWEALLCAPS@kbin.social 2 points 2 years ago

My case has saved my phone screen so many times. Its raised edge keeps the screen from smashing into the ground.

[-] n3m37h@lemmy.world 3 points 2 years ago

I always use a glass screen protector, my last phone (Galaxy A71) only had a case, dropped it 100's of times, one time there was a little pebble on the ground and that shattered my screen, for $10 you can get a 3 pack of glass screen protectors. Well worth it IMO

[-] tias@discuss.tchncs.de 5 points 2 years ago

I have yet to understand the "discrepancy". Which brand doesn't default to locking the phone automatically after a short timeout? I've never had a smartphone that stays unlocked.

[-] psud@lemmy.world 7 points 2 years ago

Users can change that setting. One of my friends doesn't like having to unlock his phone, so he turned off locking

[-] restingboredface@sh.itjust.works 6 points 2 years ago

Just knowing there are people out there who do these things gives me anxiety on their behalf. WHY WOULD SOMEONE DO THAT

[-] funkless_eck@sh.itjust.works 3 points 2 years ago

they are proud of their butthole photos and want everyone to see

[-] Fiivemacs@lemmy.ca 2 points 2 years ago

You know you aren't forced to put a password on your phone...

[-] solidgrue@lemmy.world 57 points 2 years ago

I just wanna know what brand of phone case was on that phone.

[-] Cort@lemmy.world 59 points 2 years ago

Some phone case company is about to get some serious free advertising

[-] TheOSINTguy@sh.itjust.works 13 points 2 years ago

Typically whenever you hear about stuff like this, it brands like uag (urban armor gear) and otterbox.

[-] Kolanaki@yiffit.net 13 points 2 years ago

I have one called Beetle Defender and it's been even better than the OtterBox cases I've had. The Otterbox's silicone part would always get stretched out and become loose over time, with the flaps no longer closing or the corners coming off.

[-] derin@lemmy.beru.co 3 points 2 years ago

+1 to otter box - love their rugged cases

[-] Rapidcreek@lemmy.world 50 points 2 years ago

It was still in Airplane mode.

[-] KazuyaDarklight@lemmy.world 76 points 2 years ago

That's why it survived the landing.

[-] clearedtoland@lemmy.world 29 points 2 years ago

God damn it. I envy the effortless wittiness of some of you.

[-] phoneymouse@lemmy.world 4 points 2 years ago

Airplane mode engages the parachute

[-] dhork@lemmy.world 10 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

Surely you can't be serious?

(Oh, wait, wrong Airplane....)

[-] LuckyBoy@lemmy.world 7 points 2 years ago

I am serious — and don’t call me Shirley.

[-] azertyfun@sh.itjust.works 4 points 2 years ago

Damn, this ARG stuff goes hard.

this post was submitted on 08 Jan 2024
217 points (97.0% liked)

Technology

72764 readers
1135 users here now

This is a most excellent place for technology news and articles.


Our Rules


  1. Follow the lemmy.world rules.
  2. Only tech related news or articles.
  3. Be excellent to each other!
  4. Mod approved content bots can post up to 10 articles per day.
  5. Threads asking for personal tech support may be deleted.
  6. Politics threads may be removed.
  7. No memes allowed as posts, OK to post as comments.
  8. Only approved bots from the list below, this includes using AI responses and summaries. To ask if your bot can be added please contact a mod.
  9. Check for duplicates before posting, duplicates may be removed
  10. Accounts 7 days and younger will have their posts automatically removed.

Approved Bots


founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS