# What on an airplane ceiling, hit by a popped champagne cork, would cause all the O2 masks to drop? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 10, 2015, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-on-an-airplane-ceiling-hit-by-a-popped-champagne-cork-would-cause-all-the-o2-masks-to-drop/730497 "2015-09-10T04:00:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2015, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-on-an-airplane-ceiling-hit-by-a-popped-champagne-cork-would-cause-all-the-o2-masks-to-drop/730497/21 "2015-09-11T04:35:37Z")
400 hPa is [about what you have at 7000 meters](https://www.google.com/search?q=pressure+vs+altitude&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0CB4QsARqFQoTCLeb8NKS7scCFQEJkgod6M8AFw&biw=774&bih=405#imgrc=L-JlECDt5maNeM%3A), and no pressurization. 750 to 800 is about what they shoot for in level flight; see the graph in my first link. The units millibars and hectoPascals are close enough as to make no difference. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2015, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-on-an-airplane-ceiling-hit-by-a-popped-champagne-cork-would-cause-all-the-o2-masks-to-drop/730497/22 "2015-09-11T12:40:38Z")
> [@Squink](#): > > 400 hPa is [about what you have at 7000 meters](https://www.google.com/search?q=pressure+vs+altitude&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0CB4QsARqFQoTCLeb8NKS7scCFQEJkgod6M8AFw&biw=774&bih=405#imgrc=L-JlECDt5maNeM%3A), and no pressurization. > 750 to 800 is about what they shoot for in level flight; see the graph in my first link. > The units millibars and hectoPascals are close enough as to make no difference. I was talking about a backup pressurization controller that manages cabin altitude crudely but tolerably given a more-or-less normal supply of incoming air. You’re talking about a rapid decompression such as would occur after a big hole appeared in the hull. Two rather different scenarios. But yes, having a big hole in the hull does lead to lots of ear and innards effects very quickly. None of which are much fun. But not life-threatening in and of themselves. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2015, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-on-an-airplane-ceiling-hit-by-a-popped-champagne-cork-would-cause-all-the-o2-masks-to-drop/730497/23 "2015-09-11T12:51:07Z")
It occurs to me that by rights Champagne and the like “should be” banned from hand luggage, given all the other nonsense that’s confiscated. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2015, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-on-an-airplane-ceiling-hit-by-a-popped-champagne-cork-would-cause-all-the-o2-masks-to-drop/730497/24 "2015-09-11T13:05:10Z")
> [@Leo\_Bloom](#): > > It occurs to me that by rights Champagne and the like “should be” banned from hand luggage, given all the other nonsense that’s confiscated. In the US, a bottle of champagne wouldn’t be allowed through the security checkpoint, but a passenger could buy it from one of the shops in the secured area; bottles of champagne aren’t generally regarded as a security threat. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2015, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-on-an-airplane-ceiling-hit-by-a-popped-champagne-cork-would-cause-all-the-o2-masks-to-drop/730497/25 "2015-09-11T13:36:57Z")
A number of jokes could be made about hijacking scenarios with gourmet terrorists, but it’ so felony in front of TSA and today’s 9/11. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2015, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-on-an-airplane-ceiling-hit-by-a-popped-champagne-cork-would-cause-all-the-o2-masks-to-drop/730497/26 "2015-09-11T20:01:55Z")
> [@Leo\_Bloom](#): > > A number of jokes could be made about hijacking scenarios with gourmet terrorists, but it’ so felony in front of TSA and today’s 9/11. I don’t often hijack planes, but when I do, I insist on Dom Pérignon. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2015, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-on-an-airplane-ceiling-hit-by-a-popped-champagne-cork-would-cause-all-the-o2-masks-to-drop/730497/27 "2015-09-11T22:20:06Z")
> [@Leo\_Bloom](#): > > It occurs to me that by rights Champagne and the like “should be” banned from hand luggage, given all the other nonsense that’s confiscated. Make it a less than three-ounce bottle with a wee little cork in it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-on-an-airplane-ceiling-hit-by-a-popped-champagne-cork-would-cause-all-the-o2-masks-to-drop/730497.md?page=1)