A traveler on an airplane who does not know the direction of the qiblah: is it permissible for him to pray in any direction?

Question : A man traveling on an airplane says that he does not know the direction of the qiblah, and that no one else on board knows it either. He prayed without knowing whether he was facing the correct direction in his prayer. Is the prayer valid in such a case?

Answer : If a passenger on an airplane wants to pray a voluntary prayer, he prays in whatever direction he is facing, and it is not obligatory for him to face the qiblah, because it is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) As for the obligatory prayer, it is necessary to face the qiblah, it is necessary to stand, and it is necessary to bow and prostrate. Accordingly, if he is able to do so on the airplane, let him pray on the airplane. If the prayer that comes due while he is on the airplane is one that can be combined with the one following it, such as if the midday prayer comes due, he delays it until he combines it with the afternoon prayer, or if the sunset prayer comes due while he is on the airplane, he delays it until he combines it with the night prayer. May Allah reward you with good.