Passenger Refuse to turn off iphone on mid-air.

[Chevy57]

We know flying is a tiring business, especially with all the new security precautions nowadays—but getting so worked up over a 15 year-old ignoring requests to turn off all electronic devices that you punch him? Not on, dude.

The 68 year-old man, Russell Miller, was irked that the 15 year-old didn't comply to air stewardesses' requests to turn off cellphones and other powered devices, so he punched him in the arm. When they landed at Boise airport, the police were ready and waiting to arrest Miller. Policeman Kent Lipple commented that "he punched him so hard there was a mark on the teen's arm."

Given that their flight originated from Las Vegas, perhaps Miller was making up for a lack of shenanigans in the city of sin. [kboi2 via @calcagno]

Man Punches Teenager For Refusing to Turn Off His iPhone Mid-Air

FAA requires to turn off iPhones and iPod Touch on mid-air flight while airline mode turn off on it. Right??

 

[yizuman]

Wasn't there a report finally released that all this time such devices actually poses no threat to the instruments of commercial airlines?

Yiz

 

[LinuxGold]

yizuman: Yes you are correct that FCC released reports that such device actually poses no threat but also said that anything CAN happen that was not part of lab research. Incompatibility OFTEN occur when they were not the most expected (speaking from my experience as Electronics enthusiast).

Also airplane manufacturers are looking into bluetooth-controlled designs -- controlling all motor parts of airplane using bluetooth. They eliminates the need to use wires between cockpit and motors parts i.e. ailerons, flaps and so on. Imagine the worst case scenario -- someone built their own Bluetooth device (maybe me for instance) that works for other purpose and interferes with flight? -- oh my oh my!

Now imagine this -- if you jailbroke cellphones and re-programmed it for your own purpose -- something that was not tested in lab and used it in an airplane -- what happen then?

 

[nobody456]

Bad things. Just keep 'em off. No reason to have them on right?....wait-a-tick...

Well, especially because the teenager probably knew that there was a "airplane" mode on the phone (which turns off all radio devices inside the phone? I'm assuming) and the 68-year man probably didn't know about that function of the phone so maybe the teenager was using it as a music/video player in flight? Communication...not violence folks.

 

[Glenn]

Wasn't there a report finally released that all this time such devices actually poses no threat to the instruments of commercial airlines?

Yiz

That doesn't matter. It is up to the pilots to keep a few hundred passengers and a several million dollar air craft safe. They have no way to be 100% sure the device won't interfere with critical operations, so turning it off is the best choice.