| A man who repeatedly refused to turn off his mobile phone during an international flight was jailed for 12 months yesterday.
Airlines, police and the pilots’ association welcomed the prison term imposed on Neil Whitehouse, 28, an oil worker, by a judge at Manchester crown court.
He was convinced of “recklessly and negligently” acting in a manner likely to endanger the British Airways Boeing 737 flight from Madrid to Manchester in September last year.
Judge Anthony Ensor told him: “Clearly you have no regard to the alarm and concern of passengers by your stubborn and arrogant behaviour. Any sentence must not only punish you but act as a warning to others.”
He called the Civil Aviation Authority to conclude investigations into legislation specifically banning mobile phones on planes.
“Proliferation of ownership of mobile phones and an increasing number of reports from pilots of electro-magnetic interference makes this a priority,” he said.
At this trial last month the jury heard how Whitehouse, of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, refused to switch off the phone despite requests from the captain and cabin crew. | |
