A passenger on a Delta Airlines flight was removed from a flight for refusing to get off the phone. As the flight attendants attempted to give pre-takeoff safety instructions, the passenger continued to talk on her phone. When asked to end the call, she refused and became belligerent. Since the passenger refused to cooperate, the pilot decided to return to the gate. Once at the gate, a supervisor asked the passenger to leave the plane. She once again refused, even though disturbed fellow passengers pleaded with her to leave.

When bargaining with the passenger failed, the crew decided to deplane all the passengers from the flight. Apparently, upon realizing that the flight would not be leaving for Atlanta, the unruly passenger decided to join the rest of the passengers in exiting the plane. That is when police arrested her. She now faces charges of trespassing. Although many passengers got video footage of the incident that went viral and undoubtedly garnered many “likes,” it is unlikely that any of them liked the fact that their flight from Miami to Atlanta was delayed by over an hour.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Would it have been possible to reach a Coasian bargaining solution with the passenger? Why or why not?
  2. Discuss the costs imposed on fellow travelers due to this passenger’s refusal to end their phone call. Are the costs limited only to people who were on that particular flight? Explain.