Tells FAs "Kiss My [Expletive]" When Told To Hang Up

Here's a friendly hint: when the flight attendant tells you NOT to take that call... you'd better follow their advice, regardless of circumstances. Alas, an Austin, TX businessman failed to heed repeated warnings to do just that on a recent Southwest Airlines flight from Austin to Dallas, and was charged with a crime as a result.

The Dallas Morning News reports Joe David Jones was met by police upon landing at Love Field (DAL,) and charged with disorderly conduct -- a Class C misdeamenor, that carries a fine up to $500.

Jones reportedly got on his cell phone as the jet began its descent into Dallas on Monday. "After multiple requests, the flight attendants were not successful in getting the passenger to get off the phone," Southwest spokeswoman Brandy King said.

According to the police report, Jones twice told flight attendants "Kiss my [expletive]" when told to end his call. He remained on the phone for about 20 minutes... and continued to be disruptive even when police met him at the gate.

Jones, 50, is president of Skyonic Corp., an Austin-based environmental start-up company. A spokesman for Skyonic told the DMN Jones had received a message inflight that his father had suffered a heart attack, and he was trying to reach the cardiac unit where his father was being treated.

"He did express regrets for any inconvenience, but due to the life and death circumstances, he felt he needed to make the call," spokesman Mark Clayton said.

Southwest spokeswoman Beth Hardin replies if that was indeed the case, the airline sympathizes... but it's not Southwest's call to make. "It was a safety regulation that we're required to enforce, and we're simply not in a position to make exceptions," she said.

The FAA bans use of cellphones on all aircraft when inflight over the United States, based on safety recommendations by the Federal Communications Commission. If a carrier is found to have allowed such usage, it can face a hefty fine.

FMI: www.faa.gov, www.southwest.com