First I know that there have been a few threads on similar topics in the past, but I think this one is unique in its own right.
Second, I'm breaking one of my cardinal rules and posting something that I saw on Fark here. Hopefully this is the first and last time I'm doing that.
Finally, and to get to the point, there's a huge discussion going on over at Fark about this story:
http://www.tampabays10.com/news/wate...ryid=48796&s=f
Basically, some numbskull going from Ft. Myers to St. Louis wouldn't hang up her phone when instructed by the cabin crew. The validity of cell phone interference with navigational eqiupment aside, that's a huge no-no, and I think anyone who's flown at all in the past 5 years should realize that.
I'm a very frequent traveler (at least 2 flights per week) and a very heavy cell phone user, but I've always had the courtesy to my fellow travelers to hang up on whoever I'm talking to with a request for them to call my cell phone back, leave a message with whatever talking points they have and that I'll call them back as we're taxiing to the gate. People tend to be very understanding about cell phones on planes. I've even used the airphones on United (until my company stopped allowing me to expense those), but when you're trying to cut a deal worth tens of thousands to you personally, you do what it takes.
The point of this thread is the last point of the story, which says that the unidentified woman isn't going to be charged. I'm sorry, but if you're hauled off of a plane because you won't comply with crew orders, the authorities need to get involved. Am I way off base with this?