Lawmakers warn in-flight calls could lead to fights

Dozens of lawmakers are warning that allowing people to talk on their cellphones on airplanes could lead to fights at 30,000 feet.

77 lawmakers warned the heads of the Departments of Transportation, Homeland Security, AND Justice and the Federal Communications Commission that the potential move to allow people to have in-flight phone conversations could lead to heated arguments among passengers that distract officials’ attention and make planes less safe. “Passengers making voice calls during flight could impact the ability of crewmembers -- flight attendants and pilots -- to perform their jobs, keep passengers safe and the cabin environment calm,” lawmakers wrote in a letter coordinated by Reps David McKinley (R-WV) and Dan Lipinski (D-IL). “Arguments in an aircraft cabin already start over mundane issues, like seat selection, reclining seats and overhead bin space, and the volume and pervasiveness of voice communications would only serve to exacerbate and escalate these disputes,” they added.