[safety_first]

I am writing to complain about the way a Southwest Airlines flight attendant handled an incident on Flight 2221 from Los Angeles to Oakland on August 13 2007.

This flight attendant repeatedly ignored my assertions that the passenger sitting next to me still had her cell phone on even though the crew had already announced that all electronic equipment must be turned off. The FAA requires that all cell phones be turned off during the flight because they may interfere with the plane's navigational system. The flight attendant's response to my concern for safety was to tell me not to talk to the passenger again. Meanwhile, the passenger starts screaming at me, telling me to "relax, and have faith in my God."

When the plane leaves the gate, the passenger's phone starts to ring, which is a violation of both FAA and FCC rules.

Finally, a second flight attendant comes over and shuts off the passenger's phone. The first flight attendant, however, demands that the plane return to the gate.

When the passenger is escorted off the plane, several passengers assure me that I did the right thing. To my utter surprise after a few minutes I am asked to leave the plane because I raised my voice to the other passenger. While I realize that this was a mistake on my part, I was being verbally abused and was also frustrated that the flight attendant wasn't enforcing FAA security rules.

Had the flight attendant taken my concerns for safety seriously the first time,

(1) FAA and FCC rules would not have been broken.
(2) I would not have had words with the passenger and had to leave the plane
(3) The other passengers would not have been delayed by our return to the gate.

I am angered that I was punished by Southwest Airlines for doing the right thing. My removal from the plane sent the message that if you raise a concern about safety you will be ignored and then punished if you persist.

I have sent a complaint to Southwest Airlines and to the Aviation Consumer Protection Division. I would like this flight attendant to be
reprimanded and made to understand that it is her duty to enforce FAA security rules.

[i450009]

"When the plane leaves the gate, the passenger's phone starts to ring, which is a violation of both FAA and FCC rules"

No, it's not. Portable electronic devices, including cellular telephones my be used on an aircraft at any time while on the ground, including during taxi. Most airlines ask that Customers turn off and stow these items prior to taxi so that the cabin is secure at the time of takeoff. That said, I'm glad the Flight Attendants heeded your concerns prior to the flight taking off as then the Customer whose phone was still on would then have been in violation of the regulations.

[Jetliner]

It's not FAA security rules as you have stated. Also her phone on is not threatening the safety of the flight. When the plane lands, you are allowed to use your phone while the plane is taxing to the gate. When leaving the gate, as was the case here, everyone is asked to turn off their phones more as preperation of the cabin for take off.

The actual main problem with cell phones in the air is that they screw up the cell phone system when your phone hits several cell towers at once. That's why the FCC has a problem with it.

The FAA's end of it is that some radio transmitters and receivers are able to interfere with the radio equipment on the aircraft, but not all. In fact I've seen test that have shown that cell phones won't. But the FAA, playing it safe, has put a blanket statment saying ANY transmitting and receiveing device. And before anyone asks why receiveing, radio receiver today are what is known as a Super heterodyne set. It's kind of hard to explain here, but in a nutshell the radio signal is received, and mixed with a different frequencey. It's that mixing stage that can bleed off a stray signal.

As to the part of you being removed, I understand both sides. They see you getting verbal, but they should have paid better attention to what you were telling her. Probably was not a good idea to get into an argument with the other passenger. The issue there is simply that an argument can lead to a physical confrontation. While you're on the ground that can be delt with, but not as well in the air.