Is it safe to fly in the rain?

In this article · 7 sections

The short answer
The engines are tested in rain
The pilots can still see
Wet runways are planned for
Rain versus thunderstorms
What you'll notice
Keep reading

The short answer

Rain is one of the most ordinary things an airliner flies through. The airplane, the engines and the runway are all designed, tested and operated with wet weather in mind. The weather pilots do steer around is the thunderstorm, which is a different thing from a rainy day.⁵

The engines are tested in rain

Before a jet engine can be certified in the US, its maker has to show that it keeps working when it suddenly meets heavy rain and hail at standard test concentrations. The rule spells out what "keeps working" means: no flameout, no run-down, no surge or stall it can't recover from, and no loss of the ability to speed up or slow down, during any three-minute continuous period in rain.¹ In plain words, a downpour isn't something the engine has to survive by luck. It's part of the test.

The pilots can still see

Airliner design rules require a way to keep enough of the windshield clear in precipitation for both pilots to have a good view, including in heavy rain at high speed.² That's what the windshield wipers you may spot from the terminal are for. On many approaches in rain, the pilots also follow an instrument approach to the runway, so they aren't relying on the view alone (see Can planes land in fog?).

Wet runways are planned for

A wet runway needs more distance to stop, and it's something pilots are trained for. The FAA's flying handbook explains why standing water matters and advises landing on a grooved runway when one is available, because grooves give water somewhere to go.³ In the US, airports use a standard method (called TALPA) to assess and report runway conditions whenever a paved runway isn't dry, so the crew can match the landing distance they need to the conditions on the day.⁴

Rain versus thunderstorms

Heavy rain is often reported together with thunderstorms, so the two get mixed up. The FAA's guidance to pilots is blunt about storms: avoiding them is the best policy, and pilots shouldn't take off or land with a thunderstorm approaching.⁵ That's why storms cause delays, reroutes and holding. A grey, drizzly day doesn't.

What you'll notice

Water streaking sideways across your window, and droplets racing back along the wing.
A greyer, sometimes bumpier climb through the cloud layer, then often sunshine above it.

None of these is a sign that anything is wrong.

Keep reading

Thunderstorms: why pilots go around them
What is a ground stop?
Is it safe to fly in strong wind?
Check the weather at both ends of your trip with My Flight

Quick answers

Can a plane take off in heavy rain?

Yes. Rain on its own is routine. Engines must show during certification that they keep running normally through sudden encounters with heavy rain, and airports and pilots account for wet runways. Thunderstorms are treated differently and avoided.

Can rain put out a jet engine?

Engine certification rules require each engine to keep operating acceptably, with no flameout, through sudden encounters with standard concentrations of rain, including any three-minute continuous period in rain.

How do pilots see through the windshield in heavy rain?

Airliner certification rules require a way to keep enough of the windshield clear for both pilots during precipitation, including heavy rain.

Is landing on a wet runway dangerous?

It needs more care, and pilots plan for it. Runways can be grooved to help water drain, and US airports report runway conditions in a standard way so crews can work out the landing distance they need when a runway isn't dry.

Sources

(5)

Facts last checked against these sources: October 18, 2026.