American Airlines Attempts Damage Control Regarding Alec Baldwin Incident

In an apparent attempt at damage control, American Airlines turned to social media to air its side of the story regarding the airline's decision to eject Alec Baldwin from one of its flights. The airline spoke up on its own behalf after various news outlets reported Baldwin's account of the incident. Baldwin told the media that he was kicked off the flight because he was playing the popular Facebook game "Words with Friends" as the plane was readying for takeoff from Los Angeles International Airport.

The company made a post its Facebook page that related a story about an unnamed passenger who was removed from the flight. Referring to the passenger only as an "extremely vocal customer,” the airline stated that the would-be flier refused to turn his most likely free cell phone off when a flight attendant asked him to. Rather than comply, the passenger ignored the lighted seat belt sign and got up from his seat, taking his phone into the plane's lavatory.

"He slammed the lavatory door so hard the cockpit crew heard it and became alarmed, even with the cockpit door closed and locked," according to American's post. Further, "The passenger was extremely rude to the crew, calling them inappropriate names and using offensive language. Given the facts above, the passenger was removed from the flight and denied boarding."

In addition to posting about the incident on Facebook, American Airlines Tweeted that employees acted in compliance with federal safety regulations, which require passengers to turn off all electronic devices as the plane is taxiing and taking off.

Baldwin had earlier described his experience on Twitter, saying he was "reamed" by an airline employee for playing the crossword game as the plane waited on the tarmac. According to his spokesman, the actor is a devoted fan of the game. "He loves 'Words with Friends' so much that he was willing to leave a plane for it," said Matthew Hitzik.

Police were not called over the incident, and Baldwin was allowed to board another plane from the same airline and continue his flight to New York shortly afterwards. However, the actor later Tweeted a final parting shot at the attendant who kicked him of the plane and said that he's done with the airline for good. Baldwin’s final Tweet on the matter read, "Last flight w American. Where retired Catholic school gym teachers from the 1950's find jobs as flight attendants."