Passengers Refuse To Claim Phone

"Whose phone is that?" A simple question -- but one that passengers onboard a British Airways flight Sunday were either unable... or unwilling... to answer.

BA179 was forced to turn back to Heathrow 90 minutes after the flight took off for New York's JFK International, after crewmembers heard a mobile phone ringing at the rear of the cabin shortly after the plane took off.

None of the 217 passengers onboard the Boeing 777 admitted the phone was theirs, according to the BBC's News 24. Under current security restrictions, cell phones are banned from the cabins of all flights from the UK to the United States.

"One and a half hours later the captain made the decision, having spoken to his company, that we need to come back," one passenger told News 24. "He dumped fuel and we're now back at Heathrow."

Officials with British Airways apologized for the inconvenience, but reiterated that safety is the airline's "number one priority" -- especially now.

"...We will always err on the side of caution," a spokesperson for the airline said.

The flight took off again early Monday morning... this time, with absolutely no carry-on luggage permitted onboard.

FMI: www.britishairways.com