Alec Baldwin apologizes to passengers, not American Airlines

Alec Baldwin speaks at People For The American Way Foundation's 30th Anniversary Celebration on Oct. 6, 2011, in New York.

/ Getty

(CBS/AP) Alec Baldwin may have deactivated his Twitter account, but the online battle between the actor and American Airlines is still going on.

Baldwin wrote a piece for the Huffington Post to apologize to passengers on a flight that was delayed by his refusal to stop playing a cell phone game - but he stopped short of apologizing to the airline or the flight attendant he later mocked on Twitter.

Pictures: Alec Baldwin
Read more: Airline responds after Baldwin kicked off flight

"It was never my intention to inconvenience anyone with my 'issue' with a certain flight attendant," he wrote on Wednesday.

The "30 Rock" actor believes he was singled out for using his phone while the plane remained at the gate, something he says other passengers were also doing.

"I was singled out by this woman in the most unpleasant of tones," he said. "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."

The "30 Rock" actor's note also lamented the state of modern air travel. Baldwin noted the financial struggles of airlines, saying the result is that air travel has devolved into an inelegant experience, akin to riding a Greyhound bus.

Baldwin said the level of service on U.S. carriers has deteriorated "to a point that would make Howard Hughes red-faced."

"Filthy planes, barely edible meals, cuts in jet service to less-traveled locations," he wrote.

Baldwin added that increased security on commercial airplanes after the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks has resulted in a "paramilitary" aura around air travel.

"September 11th was a horrific day in the airline industry, yet in the wake of that event, I believe carriers and airports have used that as an excuse to make the air travel experience as inelegant as possible," he said.

Baldwin's letter is the latest volley in a dustup with American Airlines. The airline took to its Facebook page on Wednesday to maintain it was following federal regulations when it booted an "extremely vocal customer" from a flight for refusing to shut off his cell phone.

The airline, which earlier cited passenger privacy in declining to discuss the matter, said it decided "to provide the actual facts of the matter" after Baldwin stated publicly he had gotten kicked off the flight. The company never cited the "30 Rock" star by name.

Baldwin took to Twitter after Tuesday's incident at Los Angeles International Airport, saying he was asked to leave a New York-bound plane after a "flight attendant on American reamed me out" for playing a game on his cell phone. Baldwin said he was playing "Words With Friends" while the plane sat at a gate.

American said on Facebook that Federal Aviation Administration regulations require that cell phones and other electronic devices be turned off as soon as the airliner's door has been closed. The company said Baldwin refused to comply.

"The passenger ultimately stood up (with the seat belt light still on for departure) and took his phone into the plane's lavatory," American Airlines said. "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 airline added that Baldwin was "extremely rude" to the flight crew, calling people "inappropriate names" and using offensive language.

Baldwin's spokesman, Matthew Hiltzik, said Wednesday it was the flight attendant who acted inappropriately. He said other people on the plane were violating the regulation and that Baldwin was singled out.

"The plane was already delayed half an hour at the gate when Alec was playing 'Words with Friends,"' Hiltzik told The Associated Press. "Other passengers who tweeted flagrantly violated these rules without any repercussions - proving that they were obviously selectively enforced."

Airport police have said they did not respond to the incident.

Baldwin deactivated his Twitter account and all of his previous tweets were removed. Hiltzik said that was because the actor was setting aside his Twitter activity to concentrate on "30 Rock."

In the tweets that have since been removed, Baldwin mocked American Airlines as a company "where Catholic school gym teachers from the 1950's find jobs as flight attendants."

At least one other celebrity came to Baldwin's defense on Twitter.

Boxing great Oscar De La Hoya, who was on the same flight, tweeted that he thought the flight attendant overreacted.

"@AlecBaldwin was doing nothing wrong but playing `words' on his phone," De la Hoya said.

Baldwin boarded another American Airlines flight to New York after Tuesday's incident, but said he wouldn't fly with American again.

[Irby32]

AA = crap

[I_remember_when]

I'm guessing Alec Baldwin ran into the mysterious and beautiful "Nazi-tendant".

She's been seen to sneak onto commercial flights, often disguising herself as a flight attendant -- showing up when too many passengers smile. She enforces the FAA rules: "In the interest of passenger safety, airlines are allowed to voluntarily restrict the number of simultaneously smiling passengers per flight segment."

Check it out in the regulations: http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/cfr_2011/janqtr/14cfr91.533.htm and http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/cfr_2011/janqtr/14cfr91.1067.htm

I remember when domestic airline travel was an experience EVERYONE looked forward to. And those who flew regularly had hardly a complaint. I remember always leaving a flight with a smile and a great memory.

Today, after a flight - whether it's for business or personal - I worry the flight-experience will be so bad that it will overshadow my pleasant vacation memories.

I fully agree with Alec Baldwin. I'm very familiar with FAA rules on this topic, and I also work with electronic devices. The chance of FCC-approved electronic devices causing EMF interference with modern flight controls is nearly nil. The walkie-talkies used as airports by ground personnel has a greater chance than a digital phone or laptop.

Domestic (most American) Airlines are horrendous today, and they're getting worst. AMERICAN AIRLINES IS THE ABSOLUTE WORST - their ground crew and flight crew are UNTRAINABLE (even Simians are trainable).

I was recently on a set of AA flights, and the flights were all OVERBOOKED, one by 20 people - that means they took money from 20 more people than the plane had seats!! AMERICAN AIRLINES, VERY GREEDY.

I'm handicapped, and I made sure prior to departure that all of my reservations documented by request for airport assistance.

Well, I found out the hard way that AMERICAN AIRLINES IS NOT FRIENDLY TO DISABLED PEOPLE. When we landed, they "forgot" to send someone to help me - and they blamed it on others. Then on the next flight we had to wait 3 EXTRA HOURS ("sorry folks we're running a little late", woopsy-do). AND then they announced "we are pleased to offer advanced boarding to our 100K and elite travellers"... they boarded them BEFORE HANDICAPPED TRAVELERS.

Their gate agent was quite rude too - she assigned seats to my family with children absolutely last, and blatantly lied that it was because she thought we had checked-in last. Fellow travelers who were on the same flight with us had checked-in AFTER us, but their seats had been assigned all together. After she got us seats, I found we were spread-apart (I had to ask strangers to exchange seats, so we could sit with our kids).

I only flew again on American Airlines after boycotting them for 12 years (past bad experiences), AND NOW AFTER THIS EXPERIENCE (and hearing they'll do this to celebrities) I AM HAPPY TO SAY I WILL NOT TRAVEL ON AMERICAN AIRLINES.

I HOPE AMERICAN AIRLINES GOES BANKRUPT. We need to give their airport-landing-rights to a better airline, one who hires people with a semblance of decorum and humanity.

[Haw_Haw]

baldwin is a system one thinker. just goes with what comes naturally; arrogance. with that said he cracks me up in 30 rock!

[airlinessuck]

I travel full time and I'd like to make 2 comments:

1) we all know that the electronic devices cannot and will not interfere with the flight controls. It is offensive that these announcements were made as it has been proven beyond the shadow of a doubt that no devices, including cell phones have the power to disrupt the flight controls. Myth Busters proved it to be practically impossible with the power and wavelengths of modern devices. So, stop treating us like complete idiots and tell us it's for safety. Landing and takeoff and the most dangerous and accident prone times and all electrical devices, music, movies, etc. should be turned off so that if there is an emergency, those small devices which can behave like projectiles will not become projectiles and so that if there is an emergency, everyone's full attention is on the situation at hand.

2) Concerning American Airlines, they are indeed the worst airline I have ever flown. While no airline that I have ever flown treats any passenger with respect and courtesy, American Airlines is by far the worst I have ever had the displeasure of flying. All airlines treat you like utter crap until you have some level of status. But, even after flying American Airlines for 6 months after moving to a new city, I was treated so badly by an American Airlines door nazi, that I swore never to fly American again. Had it not been for my hectic schedule, I would have sued American Airlines for discrimination. So rude, inflammatory, and absolutely unacceptable was her behavior, that another passenger actually called me a "fatass". While I am a bit overweight, I have several health issues that make it very difficult to control my weight, but I still fit into a single seat. What's worse, is that this rude witch proceeded to allow other people that took the flight, to do exactly what she refused to let me do: board with my carry on and my "personal item" (a laptop bag) both of which fit underneath the seat AND in the overhead of the Canada Air Regional Jet. If I could, I would single-handedly put American Airlines out of business.

Do I think Alec Baldwin was correct or justified in his behavior, No. I don't. But can I understand his behavior? yeah. I do. And if I had my way, ALL airlines would get a lot more strictly regulated, there would be a passenger Bill of Rights, and there would be a bit of a return to flying being an enjoyable and pleasant experience. As it is now, we are no more than cattle, corralled into too small a space which is incredibly uncomfortable and highly unpleasant.

American Airlines needs to be taught a lesson.

[Kimbakat]

you know what..he's right..I've seen the TSA and these idiots single people out. AND yes...the friendly skies are not so friendly. It has become an '"inelegant" experience". I have been preferring the trains nowadays. It's less intrusive. I hate flying because of all the post 911 BS.

[dodinyc]

His excuse is the plane was still at the gate. Well Mcfly, the plane can't begin pulling back from the gate until everything is shut off. You selfish immature Alec did not care if you were holding everyone else up. Grow up and stop whining

[phydeux2]

Wrong, the plane can push back as soon as the tower is ready. That gives the flight attendants 2-8 minutes to ask people to stow their gear before they're at the runway, assuming there's no waiting for the runway. Each crew runs their plane a bit differently.

[phydeux2]

Aside from the tantrum and storming off to the bathroom, I agree with him 1000%. The airlines, airports, and TSA treat people like cattle. The "food" is inedible. And the service is non-existent. And that's on top of losing your luggage and making you run clear across the length of the airport to catch a connection 3 minutes after your delayed flight lands.

And I too have been reamed for playing a movie or game on my phone. I even showed the flight attendant that I had the phone in "airplane mode" so all the transmitters were turned off, and that wasn't good enough. And I pointed out at least 4 other people working on laptops that she'd ignored to admonish me. She said it was FAA policy, and I recited back to her that FAA policy only kicks in once the plane begins taxiing onto the runway, until then, airport rules are in force. But rather than get tossed off the plane I told her I'd turn it off under protest that the others on laptops should be told the same.

Fly British Airways or Air France sometime and you'll have a wholly different experience. They treat you like a valued customer, not cattle.

[tsigili]

Air travel is worse than riding Greyhound.

[notparicular]

Alec Baldwin is acting up like a kid. He should fly his own plane, and leave the public alone. We are doing just fine without him.

[p51driver]

This guy is a total idiot, trying to walk in the shoes of Charlie Sheen.
Why doesn't the media get smart and quit giving him any press!