Why Do Some People ‘Pop’ Their Ears When They Fly?

Some people ‘pop’ their ears when they fly because the air pressure inside their ears doesn’t match the air pressure outside. When a plane takes off or lands, the air pressure changes quickly, like going from being in a bubble to being out of it. If your ears can’t keep up with this change, you might feel pressure or even pain. Then, when your ears finally ‘pop,’ it’s like a little balloon inside your ear snaps back into place and makes that snap sound.