When we think of earthquakes, we picture shaking buildings, cracking roads, and swaying bridges. But what about the skies above? Can an earthquake affect an aircraft cruising peacefully in the sky? Many travelers wonder: If you fly over an earthquake, will the airplane shake?

Earthquakes don’t shake the sky — an earthquake is a sudden release of energy in the Earth’s crust, creating seismic waves that travel through solid ground, not through the air. For this reason, the physical shaking that people feel on land does not extend upward to aircraft cruising in the sky. A plane flying high above an earthquake will not feel shaking because seismic waves cannot travel through the atmosphere.

So, if you were in a commercial aircraft directly above an active fault line during a major earthquake, you would feel nothing. The pilots wouldn’t feel shaking, the passengers wouldn’t notice a vibration, and the flight instruments would remain stable.

Although the earthquake itself cannot shake a plane, the event can trigger other phenomena that matter for aviation. A powerful earthquake can damage airport communication towers, radar facilities, or power systems. This might force air traffic controllers to temporarily halt operations, divert flights, or reduce airport capacity. In some cases, strong earthquakes near active volcanoes may influence volcanic activity, such as triggering small eruptions or ash emissions. Volcanic ash is dangerous for aircraft engines and can shut down flights over a wide region.

If an earthquake occurs under the ocean, resulting tsunami warnings may affect coastal airports, leading to closures or emergency precautions.

Still, none of these affect an aircraft already in cruise mode—they influence airspace management rather than flight stability.

What Happens During Takeoff or Landing?

During takeoff or landing, airplanes are most vulnerable — not to the earthquake itself, but to what it does to the airport. If the ground suddenly shakes, pilots may abort takeoff, pause taxiing, or break off a landing approach. Runways can crack or deform, lighting systems may be displaced, and control towers may temporarily lose power or communication. The real danger lies in the airport infrastructure.

Earthquakes can cause large cracks or buckling in runways, as seen at Hatay Airport in the 2023 Turkey earthquake and at Noto Airport during the 2024 Noto Peninsula earthquake. If cracks or uneven sections appear on the runway, a serious accident could occur during takeoff or landing.

This is why aviation authorities must quickly inspect the runway before allowing landings or takeoffs after an earthquake.

The real risks lie on the ground, where runways, control towers, power systems, and communications may be disrupted. Airports in earthquake-prone regions follow strict safety protocols to assess damage, activate backups, and manage or reroute air traffic. Any decision to take off during or immediately after a quake is made cautiously by air traffic control in coordination with pilots and airport operations, usually resulting in a temporary pause in ground activities until the runway and facilities are confirmed safe.