NEW YORK, N.Y. –Actor Alec Baldwin, who was removed from an American Airlines flight for refusing to turn off his cellphone, penned an article for the Huffington Post comparing the airline service to a flying Greyhound Bus, Thursday.
The 53-year-old actor bashed American Airlines in his Huffington Post article writing, “There are many now who walk the aisles of the airplane with a whistle around their neck and a clipboard in their hands, and they have made flying a Greyhound bus experience.”
The 30 Rock star was removed from an American Airlines flight at LAX on Dec. 6 for playing the game Word with Friends on his cell phone.
Baldwin and American Airline released conflicting reports on what happened during the incident on American Airlines.
In a statement posted on Facebook, American Airlines said the actor used “offensive language” and was “extremely rude to the crew” after being asked to turn off his cellphone as the plane prepared for departure.
Since an extremely vocal customer has publicly identified himself as being removed from an American Airlines flight on Tuesday, Dec. 6, we have elected to provide the actual facts of the matter as well as the FAA regulations which American, and all airlines, must enforce. Cell phones and electronic devices are allowed to be used while the aircraft is at the gate, and the door is open for boarding. When the door is closed for departure and the seat belt light is turned on, all cell phones and electronic devices must be turned off for taxi-out and take-off. This passenger declined to turn off his cell phone when asked to do so at the appropriate time. The passenger ultimately stood up (with the seat belt light still on for departure) and took his phone into the plane’s lavatory. He slammed the lavatory door so hard, the cockpit crew heard it and became alarmed, even with the cockpit door closed and locked. They immediately contacted the cabin crew to check on the situation. The passenger was extremely rude to the crew, calling them inappropriate names and using offensive language. Given the facts above, the passenger was removed from the flight and denied boarding.
In his Huffington Post piece, Baldwin fired back, calling “the American Airlines `source’, a Mr. Weiss a liar.”
“I never talked on the phone. I never yelled at or used inappropriate language to ANYONE on that plane.”
Baldwin said there was an issue with one certain flight attendant. “In this case, while other people were still manipulating their own phones, this one employee singled me out to put my phone away. Afterward, we still sat at the gate. I pulled out my phone again, while others did the same. Again, I was singled out by this woman in the most unpleasant of tones. I guess the fact that this woman, who had decided to make some example of me, while everyone else was left undisturbed, did get the better of me.”
Adding, “The lesson I've learned is to keep my phone off when the 1950's gym teacher is on duty. That was my fault there, even though this trip was quite a bit different from so many others. But it is sad, I think, that you've got to fly overseas today in order to bring back what has been thrown overboard by US carriers in terms of common sense, style, and service.”
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