Arianna Huffington Removed From Plane After BlackBerry Feud

By Jett Wells Posted Jan 11th 2011 01:06PM

Media Mogul Arianna Huffington Removed From Plane Over Blackberry Feud

When airline authorities first made the rule to turn off your cell phones before takeoff, they clearly didn't take into account the impending era of "the CrackBerry." The New York Post reports that Huffington Post founder and media titan Arianna Huffington wasn't quite ready to put her BlackBerry phone down during takeoff for her short flight from Washington, D.C., to NYC over the weekend, prompting a jabber match with a nearby passenger and an escorted removal by security after landing.

"She wouldn't turn off her BlackBerry, even when we pushed back from the gate," one passenger told Valleywag."We took off, and it became apparent that the phone was still on, which very much upset her neighbor."

After the passenger, Ellis Bellodof, 53, repeatedly asked Huffington, 60, to turn her phone off at around 10PM, the two caused a disturbance and were removed from the plane for questioning after landing in New York's LaGuardia Airport. Both were released without charges.

After the incident blew over, Huffington's publicist could only make jokes about the matter.

"There was a passenger who seemed upset. Arianna thought he didn't like the snacks. Guess not. Maybe he was an iPhone fan. As you know, the battle between iPhone lovers and BlackBerry users can get pretty heated," Huffington's rep Mario Ruiz told the Post.

Tags: Arianna Huffington

Comments

(70)

Tuesday 11 January

By peter l rogers

High Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

Typical elitist, thinks the rules don't apply to them. Put her on the do-not-fly list.

By Charlie

Vote down Vote up Report this

Just another lib. no rules for her to follow.
They should have tasered her and put her in hand cuffs.

By glenn

Was that Barbara Walters or Arianna Huffington. They sound alike when they speak. Pwease, turn woff your bwackberry.

By margie

I am still amazed at the Divas that think the rules do not apply to them.
Removing this idiot from the plane causing everyone else to be late for their destination. Why doesn't the airline enforce a penalty charge automatically to their credit card. Next time the Diva might think twice.

By Perrie

To JLS: Arianna USED to be a republican-she switched sides long ago! Right after she left her husband. Then she started the very left wing proganda web site "The Huffington Post." And what's with all the Bush stuff? This was about Arianna Huffington and her blackberry on a plane and you left wing loonies have to bring up Bush? Get over it!

By JohnRL

"Arianna Huffington Removed From Plane"

What a shame, I thought it said:

"Arianna Huffington Removed From Planet"

Wednesday 12 January

By MJR

She's been out of work since Green Acres was cancelled so I think she was looking at job postings.

By tgarris

On the last few flights I have take I notice MANY around me not turning their phones off, turning them back on during landing, etc.
Then there are all the other rules they ask people to follow ...
keeping your bag BENEATH the seat in front of you, keeping your
seatbelt fastened... It seems most people can't be bothered with
the rules these days!

By Joe

These progressive liberals are arrogant and think that the rules do not apply to them. Their elitist attitude and arrogance does not help their cause, in fact they get more despised by the average American.

Thursday 13 January

By bernard

there was a time not long ago when people just enjoyed the flight without all these un-needed gadgets i do not know why people need to use these things at all times sure they can be usefull sometimes and these airline rules have to do mostly with aircraft avionics been able to operate safely so these rules are reasenable

Page 4 of 4