Passengers clapping after landing

Clapping on landing seems rather common in Latin America.

I know several here are firmly against it and would in fact ridicule or think less of anyone who does (in jest or seriously).

I wasn't on the flight, but the QF30 incident that was diverted to Manila. A video showed the cabin all clapping when they finally touched down. I don't normally clap but I would be far from criticising anyone for doing so if they did on that landing.

I don't know if the pilots can hear it at all. What kind of noise does it take to be heard through a coughpit door?
 
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Only experienced clapping in Central and South America plus Carribean (basically Latino countries). I used to find it unnerving like those local passengers were surprised we landed safely (whereas for me that is expected).
 
Only experienced clapping in Central and South America plus Carribean (basically Latino countries). I used to find it unnerving like those local passengers were surprised we landed safely (whereas for me that is expected).
The way I see it is possibly a safely thing that you allude to, maybe a hark back to days when pilots might have commandeered the plane more like a cowboy pilot or in a region where planes / flights were not known to have a good safety record.

Maybe it's a "thank you" to the pilots which has become somewhat ritualistic, like a less reverant equivalent of Islamic carriers beginning their flights with a prayer to Allah.

In any case, this is why I can't find it in myself to ridicule or deride anyone who does clap on a plane's landing.
 
Maybe it's a "thank you" to the pilots which has become somewhat ritualistic
I believe that Sydney’s smile+nod+wave to the bus-driver, when exiting the bus, is considered as weird globally as applauding when the ‘plane lands is to us …
 
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