The 68 year-old man, Russell Miller, was irked that the 15 year-old didn’t comply to air stewardesses’ requests to turn off mobile phones 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]
Image Credit: Colorblindpicaso
MattyS
Wednesday, December 29, 2010 at 10:39 PMHe should have punched him in the face instead. Good on the bloke for sorting the little smartarse out.
Stefan
Wednesday, December 29, 2010 at 11:17 PMhahah complete overreaction XD
Steve
Thursday, December 30, 2010 at 12:11 AMYeah, ornery man hits a teen on a plane isn’t anything new. I’ve pissed off plenty of grown-ups doing this when I was younger and now that I’m an adult and travelling alone, it’s now their turn to annoy me.
But calling the cops? Geez.
David Anderton
Thursday, December 30, 2010 at 12:22 AMWell if you actually believe that the kid by not turning off his electronic device is putting lives at risk, then a dead arm is the least you would do.
P.S The facebook login is becoming really annoying on here. It keeps saying that my friends and myself are connected to gizmodo but won’t let me connect!
KadeM
Thursday, December 30, 2010 at 7:51 AMThe kid deserved it, he should respect his elders and the policies of the airline.
How hard could the punch really be from one foot away from an old fella?
Andrew
Thursday, December 30, 2010 at 8:07 AMI get the urge to punch people hunched over their iPhones daily. I’m not surprised. Get out of my way damned zombie.
DaveW
Thursday, December 30, 2010 at 8:25 AMThis is funnier cause there are no actual reports of ipods or mobile phones taking down airplanes. The stewardesses are just making everyone panic about having anything electronic on as it may crash the plane. yeah right!
Cameron
Thursday, December 30, 2010 at 9:08 AMI probably would have done a lot more then punching him in the arm. Probably best that I don’t fly.
Ash
Thursday, December 30, 2010 at 9:38 AMWhat happened to the kid when they landed? He should have also been arrested for failing to comply with a Air Stewardess.
ray martin
Thursday, December 30, 2010 at 10:07 AMi love a feel good story
Andrew
Thursday, December 30, 2010 at 11:59 AMPhones and ipods can not take down a plane, it is a load of shit.
Same thing goes for Phones and the like at petrol stations, they have never done a damn thing!
I hope that idiot does time for attacking someone over a myth!
Greg
Friday, December 31, 2010 at 10:19 AMThere have most certainly been not-so-fun fire incidents at petrol stations caused by mobile phones, static electricity discharge, and the like.
Do you think they have the “turn off all phones/radio transmitters, do not return to vehicle after fueling” signs up for fun?
If you are one of the irresponsible people who are talking on their phone while fueling up, you can damn sure bet someone will set you straight.
Tim Davis
Tuesday, January 4, 2011 at 10:17 AMhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQ0aTMMITp8
Cpt. Pajama Shark
Thursday, December 30, 2010 at 2:31 PMMan puts little shit back in his box and gets nicked.
There’s not enough vigilante justice these days IMO.
What would have happened if the man had made a citizens arrest? Yeah sure it’s a myth, but it’s also the law.
vPance
Thursday, December 30, 2010 at 3:55 PMThe kid is obviously a spoilt brat if he went crying and got the police involved. Deserves more than just a punch in the arm.
Paul
Thursday, December 30, 2010 at 11:32 PMMaybe the old guy couldn’t work out how to use his attendant light to call her over and dob him in. In that case, there was absolutely no other way to get the kid to turn it off except punch him right? I mean, he couldn’t possibly ask the kids parents or just yell out “this kid has a bomb on board” etc?
Either way, I wonder if after the punch the kid actually did turn it off?
olearymo
Friday, December 31, 2010 at 2:29 PMin the arm? and it’s considered assault?
What. A. Pussy.
Oh, it left a mark. I picked up the cat earlier and got a mark. Did I have it arrested?
Good on the old coot. I mean, maybe keep your fists to yourself. But still, if you did it on the arm… what’s the big deal.
Joeyjoejoe
Saturday, January 1, 2011 at 10:46 AMOhh man, if that old guy had of hit me (or my kid) for using my iphone in flight mode, i would have proceeded to beat the snot outta him, and then “accidentally” dropped my overhead luggage on him. What an asshole xenophobe, ffs flight mode on mobiles has been a standard feature for at least 5 years+ It was probably an Ipod touch and so does not even broadcast on the GSM range that can affect aircraft, but will have flight mode either-way, as it disables the wifi and bluetooth too which are broadcasting in the 2.4ghz range, not the 1800 – 1900 range that generally has some effect on in-flight equipment.
The entire point of flight mode is so you can use your device on a boring ass flight!
And these people in the comments applauding the old technophobe? WTF?? So you think its ok to hit children?? Where is the line drawn there?
Is it only ok because clearly the old coot has no understanding of tech, and just a primitive fear of the unknown, so much like the US gov of late.
And the commenter “Greg” have you ever successfully started a fire with a mobile phone? or know someone that has? No didn’t think so. How about ever try just starting a fire by flicking a lit cigarette onto petrol?? No? its alot harder than the movies make you think. I don’t disagree that a phone can make tiny sparks from the battery contacts, but the likelihood of managing to set something on fire is pretty damn unlikely, and these same sparks (if not bigger) can be generated just by wearing a woolen jumper and generating static electricity.