CNN posted an article about celebrity Alec Baldwin being removed from a flight because he refused to turn off his electronic device while the plane sat idly waiting to take off. It is rumored that Baldwin was playing Words With Friends and after the flight attendant asked him to power off his device that he went into the bathroom to finish his game. The article further speculates that Baldwin was kicked off the plane because he refused to power off his device.
I have mixed emotions about this article. On one hand, a rule is rule. The rules are no electronic devices. I think the majority of the population is aware of the airlines rules regarding electronic devices. If you are on their flight you must follow their rules regardless if you are a celebrity or not. The commercial airlines tell you that your devices might put out a signal that may interfere with the airplane's equipment and cause something to malfunction. I have flown privately and have never had to turn off my electronic device on a private flight. The company I previously worked for had two private jets and 4 pilots on staff who were all previous commercial pilots. These pilots told me that electronic devices do not, nor will not interfere with the airplane's equipment. If that is the case, why are these commercial airlines so controlling over passenger's cell phones? Perhaps it's because they want you to use their phones that charge $6 a minute.
Regardless of the reason, Baldwin didn't follow the rules and suffered the consequences.
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