Man Arrested After Refusing to Tune Off Phone and Punching Air Marshal

An airline passenger was arrested at Beijing Capital International Airoport (PEK) after he allegedly refused to turn off his cell phone and punched a flight security guard on China Eastern Airlines (MU) flight MU2312, Beijing News reported.

The incident occurred last Friday, Nov. 13 when the Dalian-bound flight MU2312 was taxiing for takeoff at PEK.

The airport police said the male passenger, surnamed Ni, refused to turn off his cell phone as the plane, heading from Beijing to Dalian, taxied for takeoff on the runway.

Ni shouted out "why not allow me to use my phone on the plane?", and punched the flight security guard who asked him to turn off the phone. Then the pilot decided to return to the gate as a security precaution.

The man was detained for ten days in accordance with the related safety and security rules.

According to the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), passengers currently are forbidden to turn on their mobile phones during the whole flight, even in the flight mode.