Materials may be classified by their response to externally applied magnetic fields as diamagnetic, paramagnetic, or ferromagnetic. These magnetic responses differ greatly in strength. Diamagnetism is a property of all materials and opposes applied magnetic fields, but is very weak. Paramagnetism, when present, is stronger than diamagnetism and produces magnetization in the direction of the applied field, and proportional to the applied field. Ferromagnetic effects are very large, producing magnetizations sometimes orders of magnitude greater than the applied field and as such are much larger than either diamagnetic or paramagnetic effects. hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/solids/magpr.html
and thats why it wouldnt work on anything with enough iron in it.. the iron would overcome the non-ferrous materials repulsive reaction to the magnetic field.. a person feeling weightless could be xplained by this effect, but in this case the airplane would prolly disintegrate due to the required strength of the magnetic field before u can say: "electronic fog"