American Airlines Issues Statement After Alec Baldwin Is Booted From Flight
LOS ANGELES (CBS) — American Airlines issued a statement Wednesday, just one day after actor Alec Baldwin was removed from a New York-bound flight at LAX.
"Since an extremely vocal customer has publicly identified himself as being removed from an American Airlines flight on Tuesday, Dec. 6, we have elected to provide the actual facts of the matter as well as the FAA regulations which American, and all airlines, must enforce. Cell phones and electronic devices are allowed to be used while the aircraft is at the gate and the door is open for boarding. When the door is closed for departure and the seat belt light is turned on, all cell phones and electronic devices must be turned off for taxi-out and take-off. This passenger declined to turn off his cell phone when asked to do so at the appropriate time. The passenger ultimately stood up (with the seat belt light still on for departure) and took his phone into the plane's lavatory. He slammed the lavatory door so hard, the cockpit crew heard it and became alarmed, even with the cockpit door closed and locked. They immediately contacted the cabin crew to check on the situation. The passenger was extremely rude to the crew, calling them inappropriate names and using offensive language. Given the facts above, the passenger was removed from the flight and denied boarding."
Baldwin, who was playing a game called "Words With Friends", could face stiff fines for forcing the delay of his initial flight, which returned to the gate.
He was transferred to another flight and mobbed by reporters upon his arrival in New York.
He later tweeted that he would never fly American again.
