Alec Baldwin tossed off American Airlines flight from LAX

[Dennis Donovan]

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2011/12/alec-baldwin-american-airlines.html

FAA may investigate Alec Baldwin incident if complaint filed

Alec Baldwin's dispute with an American Airlines flight attendant does not appear to be a criminal matter, law enforcement sources said Tuesday.

Baldwin was kicked off a flight departing from LAX on Tuesday afternoon -- apparently because he was playing "Words with Friends" on an unspecified electronic device.

No investigations have been opened into the matter, law enforcement sources said, but that could change if American Airlines chooses to file a complaint with the Federal Aviation Administration.

FAA spokesman Ian Gregor declined to comment specifically on Baldwin's case, but said federal authorities can investigate when an airline complains to the FAA about a passenger who refuses to obey a crew member's instructions.

"If we determine the passenger did in fact disobey a crew member's instructions, we can propose to fine that passenger," Gregor said. "The passenger could appeal our proposed fine."

At least two passengers on the flight reported the incident on Twitter.
</snip>

Oops - forgot to mention the flight was on the ground when he was removed... ;-)

[Ian David]

1. He couldn't resist his Schweddy iPad. n/t

[Name removed]

2. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[jberryhill]

6. Most likely refused to turn off an electronic device prior to departure

[xchrom]

3. Wasn't there a report of pilots keeping devices open while flying? Nt

[cognoscere]

4. Maybe he was playing against the pilot, pilot lost and got pissed,

get off the plane.

[jberryhill]

5. If the flight was departing, but still on the ground, and the cabin door closed...

...then his device was required to be off.

Some people are pretty amazing. I was seated in an exit row a few months ago out of SFO and some guy was having a conversation on his cell phone when the FA was giving the "exit row" instructions to the people seated there.

It's not brain surgery, but the FA has to go through the spiel and obtain a verbal "yes" in English to the question at the end from each exit row passenger to confirm consent and ability to understand English.

So this guy, not wanting to end his call early, stays on his call and sort of nods and puts a finger up to signal to the FA "hang on a minute, I'm still on my call."

Now, yes, the rules on electronic devices are based on something of a hypothetical which arose quite a few years ago as a result of one incident of undetermined origin at that time. Theoretically, a piece of digital equipment could "catch a one" from RFI and/or interfere with electronic navigation. Practically, the likelihood is very, very remote.

Baldwin certainly flies enough to know that when the cabin door is closed for departure, then devices are off until 10,000 feet.

[indepat]

8. The beautiful people just aren't used to having to play all the silly games society imposes on all

the rest of us. :patriot:

Edited to insert "to"

[jberryhill]

26. I've seen a lot of not so beautiful people who think the same way

Like deciding that when the plane hits turbulence and everyone sits down is the perfect time to go to the lavatory.

[indepat]

33. Not so beautiful shows through every time

;) :patriot:

[customerserviceguy]

7. Where else would the plane be when he was removed?

I don't think they toss people off in mid-flight anymore.

[Vidar]

9. The Hudson River?

[hootinholler]

10. Not since they got rid of that hijacker n/t

[liberal N proud]

11. MSNBC says it was an iPad

What awful thing did the "30 Rock" star do to cause trouble on the tarmac? He didn't turn off his electronic device iPad when told. Baldwin tweeted, "Flight attendant on American reamed me out 4 playing WORDS W FRIENDS while we sat at the gate, not moving. #nowonderamericaairisbankrupt," shortly after news of the plane's return broke on the social network.

http://scoop.today.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/12/06/9255239-alec-baldwin-kicked-off-plane-at-los-angeles-airport

You have to turn those things off so they don't interfere with the communications.

[Skittles]

15. actually, they probably don't interfere with communications

the problem is, technology changes so fast it would be cost-prohibitive testing all that shit so it's easier to just tell everyone to turn 'em off. Everyone knows this so people have no excuses if they get booted for being obstinate.

[jberryhill]

19. It's pretty much a hypothetical risk with all FCC Part 15 devices

It's an extremely low probability risk, if that, but an avoidable one.

iPads have wifi and some have 3G cellular, so they can be active transmitters (let alone normal rfi sources). The notion that an induced spike will get into the avionics and cause a catastrophe is pretty far fetched.

If it was an appreciable risk, the devices wouldn't be allowed aboard, since putting passenger safety at risk due to simple inadvertence or ignorance would not be tolerable.

[Skittles]

21. CORRECT

:D

[HipChick]

16. What exactly is an IPAD emitting?

[Dreamer Tatum]

18. douche rays nt

[jberryhill]

22. Three things

All digital circuits emit some radio waves. The reason is that the very fast switching on and off off all those binary signals means that the circuits throw off radio signals at a broad range of frequencies.

The second thing is the wifi connection. When you have wifi on, and there is no network, the wifi circuit keeps looking for one on a range of frequencies.

The third thing is the 3G connection. Some iPads use the digital cellular network to connect as well. Just like a cell phone, the iPad will look for a connection if one is not present. On the runway at LAX, it will find one and connect.

Wifi and cell phones still use radio, just like Gugliemo Marconi intended.

There are two risks involved. The first is that the navigation system of the airplane also uses radio signals. The second risk is that the electronic wiring of digital circuits can itself act as an antenna and pick up radio "noise" from other digital circuits. If a zero gets turned into a one in the wrong circuit at the wrong time, there could be unpredictable results.

Now, really, in an aircraft environment, there are all kinds of shielding and safety mechanisms built in, because all of the electronic and radio systems of the airplane itself have to play well together. But, these can all be tested under controlled conditions. Random assortments and quantities of passenger equipment doing random things at random times means that there is nobody who can give anyone a 100% no-risk guarantee. But the actual risk, if any, is exceedingly low.

On edit: and, oh yes, douche rays. Big time.

[HipChick]

24. I guess that's why most airlines now offer wireless in flight now...

I have a 5hr flight tomorrow....and a 5hr flight coming back...I stay productive and post on DU from 30K feet

[jberryhill]

25. Not below 10,000 feet

I'm not an avionics expert, but again the theory is that something going momentarily awry at cruising altitude is not as big a deal as during approach or takeoff.

From 30,000 feet, there's lots of room to correct before gravity wins the match.

[JVS]

12. Temper temper.

[Nye Bevan]

13. Those rules apply to Hollywood superstars too?

I did not know that.

[AntiFascist]

14. But, but....he has an AMEX card! n/t

[Codeine]

17. But on the upside, Triple Word Score! nt

[inna]

20. delete. i just don't like the guy, period.

[Rhiannon12866]

23. Was he doing research for a role?

:evilfrown:

[lynne]

27. Pompous Ass. It was his slamming the bathroom door that got him -

- booted off the plane. Appears he was having a little temper tantrum at not being able to play his game and he slammed the door so hard the pilot called back to see what had happened. That's when the pilot had him removed.

Just a first class jerk.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2070874/Alec-Baldwin-moments-thrown-American-Airlines-flight-playing-iPhone-game.html

[jberryhill]

28. I count one piece of luggage and two personal items

He has a shopping bag and a shoulder bag in addition to his roll aboard.

Yet another rule that doesn't apply to him.

[marshall]

30. Kim Basinger is somewhere laughing her ass off

And I'm sure her daughter has already left a pointed voice mail for daddy dearest.

[inna]

34. either that, or... she's very embarrassed for her ex.

Firmly on Kim's side personally, for the record.

[TheManInTheMac]

29. What an asshole.

[joeybee12]

31. Every time he says he's gonna run for office as a Democrat, I say...

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Enrique]

32. air travel, the great equalizer

the only place where celebrities have to follow the rules. :thumbsup: