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Passenger Arrested After Phone Call Refusal Forces Delta Flight Back to Gate

The incident underscores federal rules on obeying crew orders with possible fines for interference.

Overview

  • Delta Flight 1323 from Miami to Atlanta was taxiing on April 27 when a passenger ignored repeated orders to end a phone call.
  • Video from the cabin captured passengers pleading with her and chanting for removal as the plane returned to the gate.
  • The captain ordered a full deplaning when she still refused to exit, and deputies then arrested Shannon Marie Harris on a misdemeanor trespass charge, with another passenger also taken into custody.
  • The flight departed about an hour late after her removal, and Harris was released on a $500 bond with a court date set for May 15.
  • Rules require phones off or in airplane mode during taxi and takeoff, and the FAA warns that failing to follow crew instructions can bring civil fines up to $13,910 as airlines enforce zero tolerance for disruptions.