Is Facebook live possible in flight: How and when

The Nepal plane crash was one of the most tragic events to happen in the recent past. The level of shock the accident brought was equivalent to the surprise associated with the crash. Soon after the incident, a video clip made rounds on the internet suggesting that four Indians went live on Facebook in the airplane while landing. This confused frequent fliers and others alike on how Facebook live is possible without internet connection?
If experts are to be believed, it could be possible if the airplane approaches the land and comes within the range of nearby telecom towers. This will give some, if not all, devices signal and mobile data is activated.

Nepal crash Facebook live video
The video, which was extensively circulated and shared on social media, shows a person from a group of four people from Ghazipur district in Uttar Pradesh sharing their experience on the ill-fated Yeti Airlines flight. The 1.30 minute video, whose authenticity is yet to be verified, shows the young people enjoying while one of them can be heard saying ‘Mauj Kar Di’ (it has been a great fun).
The video shows the aircraft taking a sharp turn and then bursting into flames. When it was suggested that this was a Facebook Live video, frequent travellers found it hard to believe.
Here’s what experts have to say
Even experts said it is not possible to use the internet in a normal flight unless the airlines provide onboard connectivity, which only world’s top airlines provide on some routes. The internet will only work when the plane lands on the tarmac. It is also possible that as the airplane approaches the land and comes within the range of nearby telecom towers, some devices may get signal.

“As the aircraft crashed into a river gorge while landing in Pokhara in Nepal, the alleged FB Live video may have been in the making without signal and the moment the plane hit the ground, the smartphone may have captured the signal, the mobile data went on and the FB Live video, that was in the making and searching for any nearby network, was uploaded,” news agency IANS quoted a seasoned technology expert as saying.
The video, reportedly shot by Sonu Jaiswal, also showed crashing and flames eating up the aircraft for the last 30 seconds. His cousin Rajat Jaiswal later said that it was Sonu’s FB profile where the video was live.
“Sonu was on Facebook live after boarding the flight for Pokhara. The live-streaming showed that Sonu and his companions were in a happy mood but suddenly, flames appeared before the streaming stopped,” Rajat Jaiswal was quoted as saying.