[jimworcs]

Law School Student.....you seem like a reasonable guy, and accept that you were incorrect..for which credit is due, as many on here are incapable of this. However...

No FAA rulebook required... the FA's make an announcement to the effect that ALL electrical equipment must be switched off, even those with AirSafe mode. Furthermore, your proud boast that you had no problem on AirBerlin is also problematic. I have personally flown on Air Berlin and they absolutely did make an announcement telling passengers to switch off ALL electrical items.

The issue is not that they were quietly asking the FA for clarification. If they were, how did any other passengers know what was going on to yell at them? In any case, in your first post, the passengers were arguing the point with the FA and telling the FA she was incorrect. By your second post this had transformed into being "detained for asking a question". They were not detained for this... they were detained for initially refusing to carry out the FA's instruction and arguing the toss.

I hate Delta, and I find the change in attitude of power hungry FA's appalling, as they are often too thick to understand how to exercise power responsibly and with compassion. In this case however, I strongly suspect your friends are presenting a somewhat partial version of events.