Baltimore-Bound Passenger Charged For Pre-Flight Cell Phone Dispute
CLEVELAND (AP) -- Cleveland authorities say a Maryland traveler who refused to turn off his cell phone and fought with flight attendants as a plane taxied for takeoff has been jailed and charged with aggravated disorderly conduct.
Federal regulations allow passengers to use cellphones in airplane mode or with cellular service disabled but not for voice communications.
The Northeast Ohio Media Group reports 29-year-old Jay Peck of Bowie was charged Friday. No attorney and no scheduled court appearance were listed for him.
Police say he argued with attendants and passengers on a Baltimore-bound Southwest Airlines flight departing Cleveland Hopkins International Airport late Thursday night. The captain returned to the gate, where police boarded the plane and arrested Peck.
A Southwest Airlines spokesman told the newspaper the flight proceeded normally after he was removed.
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