Why Do Your Ears Pop on a Plane?

Why do your ears pop on a plane? Behind each eardrum is a small pocket of air, connected to your throat by a thin tube (the Eustachian tube). As the plane climbs, cabin pressure drops, the trapped air pushes the eardrum outward, the tube opens and air escapes: pop. On the way down it reverses: the cabin pushes in, and the tube tends to stay shut, which is why landing often hurts more. Swallowing, yawning or chewing gum helps open it. So that pop is your ear balancing the pressure.
This video is general information, not medical advice.

Sources:
– Mayo Clinic, Airplane ear:
– Medical Handbook for Pilots (FAA-based), the ears:
– UTHealth Otorhinolaryngology, Ears and altitude: