For years, Apple’s AirPods Pro have been the gold standard for travelers — compact, comfortable, and remarkably good at turning the roar of a jet engine into blissful silence. But the latest iteration, the AirPods Pro 3, might have stumbled at 39,000 feet.
In a firsthand account, a user who took the AirPods Pro 3 on a transatlantic flight describes an unexpected and painful issue: a sudden, high-pitched screech triggered mid-flight. The culprit appears to be a feedback loop caused by a loosening ear seal and the headphones’ active noise cancellation system. The result? A piercing whine from the left AirPod that worsened when the external microphone was covered — a nightmare scenario for anyone trapped in the middle seat.
The problem seems to arise only in the pressurized, low-humidity environment of an airplane cabin. On the ground, the same earbuds worked flawlessly. Even after experimenting with different ear tip sizes — Apple now includes XXS through L options — the noise couldn’t be reliably reproduced outside the aircraft. Others online have reported similar behavior, mostly with the left earbud, suggesting that the issue isn’t isolated. Comments on Reddit echo the same experience: “Completely fine in normal life but awful on a plane.”
There’s speculation that the new foam tips, designed to improve isolation, may actually be part of the problem. Their denser structure could reduce ventilation and trap air pressure differently than the older silicone tips, leading to seal instability as cabin pressure fluctuates. When the seal shifts, the AirPods’ noise-cancellation algorithms may overcompensate, creating that painful feedback loop.
Apple hasn’t acknowledged or addressed the reports yet. Replacement units reportedly behave the same way, leaving frequent fliers with few options beyond disabling noise cancellation or reverting to wired EarPods mid-flight.
For most users, the AirPods Pro 3 still deliver excellent sound quality and comfort. But for travelers — the group that arguably benefits most from noise-cancelling earbuds — this flaw raises questions. Until Apple investigates further, it might be wise to test the new AirPods on a short flight before committing, ideally within the return window.
Sometimes, even the most refined products can encounter turbulence where you least expect it — somewhere over the Canadian Rockies.