I've often felt the clapping was at least on par with the junior-high mob who clap when someone haplessly drops their cafeteria tray.
The thing is - it may be safer up in the air, but nobody gets on an airliner merely to be in the air; we're all trying to get to a destination. Furthermore, as any pilot will tell you the safety of being off the ground rapidly diminishes as your fuel approaches zero.
Fly El Al. On their flights, everyone claps upon touchdown regardless of flight conditions.
Though maybe that's because the plane is usually full of Jews who are happy to be in Israel.
The thing is - it may be safer up in the air, but nobody gets on an airliner merely to be in the air; we're all trying to get to a destination. Furthermore, as any pilot will tell you the safety of being off the ground rapidly diminishes as your fuel approaches zero.
Though maybe that's because the plane is usually full of Jews who are happy to be in Israel.