WiFi risks on aircraft

8 August, 2026

Have your ever wondered how much wireless radiation you are you exposed to when you fly?

So have Swedish researchers Mona Nilsson and Professor Lennart Hardell.

In a paper published in late June, Nilsson and Hardell reported what they found when they measured levels of radiofrequency (wireless) radiation inside the passenger cabins of two aeroplanes – one with standard WiFi and one with high-speed WiFi.

‘To our knowledge, this is the first study to assess RF radiation exposure on board an aircraft after the introduction of high speed Wi-Fi,’ the authors said.

Measurements were conducted in a similar manner in both aircraft and both aircraft were filled with passengers, many of whom used wireless devices during the flights.

The researchers showed, not surprisingly, that levels of wireless radiation were much higher in the aircraft with high-speed WiFi.

The peak levels of wireless radiation measured on the standard-WiFi flight ranged from 8,310 and 69,100 microwatts per square metre (μW/m2). However, the peak levels measured on the high-speed WiFi flight ranged from 299,000 to 651,000 μW/m2.

‘The levels measured on the high speed Wi-Fi aircraft are of large concern for individuals who are particularly sensitive, for toddlers and children, pregnant women, for those who travel long distances, and frequent flyers,’ the authors wrote. ‘The high RF radiation levels in the cabin may also be a workplace hazard to the employees on board.’

The levels of wireless radiation measured on both aircraft comply with the international Guidelines (ICNIRP Guidelines), on which Australia’s standard is based. However, Nilson and Hardell say there’s a problem with these Guidelines: they ‘only protect against thermal (heating) effects from short term exposure and fail to protect against any non-thermal effect that may arise within both short time and long term exposure.’

Although the levels of wireless radiation measured on the two aircraft might comply with the ICNIRP Guidelines, they don’t comply with the much stricter Europaem EMF Guidelines that do take the non-heating effects of this radiation into account.

As Nilsson and Hardell point out, the ‘EUROPAEM EMF Guidelines … propose upper limits for exposure to Wi-Fi during daytime of 10 µW/m2, for nighttime 1 µW/m2, and for sensitive person 0.1 µW/m2 in order to protect against non-thermal effects.’

That’s a very big difference.

Nilsson and Hardell say there’s only one thing to be done about it.

‘Before new technology based on RF radiation is introduced proper risk evaluation should be performed by scientists without conflicts of interest.’

Let’s hope it happens.

Mona Nilsson, Lennart Hardell, Very High Radiofrequency Radiation in the Passenger Cabin Measured in an Airplane with High-Speed Wi-Fi. Fortune Journal of Health Sciences. 9 (2026): 340-343; https://cdn.fortunejournals.com/articles/very-high-radiofrequency-radiation-in-the-passenger-cabin-measured-in-an-airplane-wit-10036.pdf