Cell phones on planes worry US law enforcement


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WASHINGTON - Allowing airline passengers to use personal cell phones during flights could help potential hijackers coordinate an attack or trigger a bomb smuggled on board, U.S. security officials have told regulators. The U.S. Justice Department, Department of Homeland Security and Federal Bureau of Investigation late on Thursday outlined the potential dangers associated with allowing cell phone use during plane flights, as the Federal Communications Commission has proposed if safety issues can be resolved. The Federal Aviation Administration would also have to approve any rule change. Present personal cell phones and other communication devices must be switched off at takeoff, landing and for the duration of commercial flights because it could potentially interfere with the operation of the plane. While some have told the FCC they worry about an increase in loud, irritating chatter on flights, law enforcement officials were focused on preventing a possible attack. "The uniqueness of service to and from an aircraft in flight presents the possibility that terrorists and other criminals could use air-to-ground communications systems to coordinate an attack," they said in comments to the FCC.

During Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, passengers and crew on the hijacked planes used cell phones as well as phones embedded in the seats to call for help and talk to loved ones. If the cell phone ban were lifted, law enforcement authorities worry an attacker could use the device to coordinate with accomplices on the ground, on another flight or seated elsewhere on the same plane. If wireless phones are to be allowed in-flight, the law enforcement agencies urged that users be required to register their location on a plane before placing a call and that officials have fast access to call identification data. "There is a short window of opportunity in which action can be taken to thwart a suicidal terrorist hijacking or remedy other crisis situations on board an aircraft," the agencies said in the comments. The security officials also worried that personal phone use could increase the risk of a remotely-controlled bomb being used to bring down an airliner. But they acknowledged simple radio-controlled explosive devices have been used in the past on planes and the first line of defense was security checks at airports.

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really its no more dangerous then a terrorist sticking mobile phone circuitry inside a game boy advance, if they wanted to remotely detonate a bomb on a plane from there seat I doubt there being a ban against using mobile phones will stop them.

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I don't think it really matters which way they go.

On one hand, yes a cell phone could be used to coordinate an attack, however on the same token a cell phone could be used to warn the ground of an attack.

so it's really a double edged sword and I don't think it matters. A good person most likely will follow the rules while a terrorist wouldn't so who would the ban really keep from talking on the phone?

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Its a completely pointless rule.

If you are going to blow up a plane then you wont care about using the cell phone.

The interfering with systems sounds fishy to me too, i mean how hard would it have been to make them use different frequencies.

The only ones this punishes are normal people (again)

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^Nothing fishy about that...they have disallowed cell phone calls on planes a long time ago because of potential interference problems. There are only so many frequencies available with all the signals beaming around these days...

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but why put cell phones on the same frequencies as aeroplane guidance? seeing as phones are really the only thing you could use on a plane.

Its like the phone/petrol station thing again

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...They could use a remote control for a toy car for gods sake. It doesn't require a cell phone to trigger bombs. Hell, they could just have someone on the ground trigger it. But I don't want cellphones on planes because of people yapping the entire flight, so I'll agree with them on this one. :)

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they should totally allow it, the only reason not to is people talking loudly, and then the flight attendants can ask you to shut up or take the phone if you're being an ass.

there's no circuitry on a plane that would get interference from a cellphone, unless the pilots were using them near their screens, and the screens are crt's.

and they shouldn't blame cell phones for bombs on board being detonated, they should focus more on maybe not letting bombs on a plane.

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the only thing i care about is stupid people disturbing a peaceful flight. please please please don't allow cellphones.

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I've read its because when you're traveling so fast the towers can barely handle the switching, something like 3 towers a minute, and you frequently wouldn't be charged for the call. Anyone know if there is any truth to this? If so maybe the cell comanies were at the airliner's asses to do something about it.

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I remember on my trip to the philippines, on the way back to the US, they looked at the game boy I had, and asked me to turn it on.

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If airlines were really doing this for safety, they wouldn't charge like $5 a minute to make calls. They'd make the rates reasonable. But no, everything has to be about gouging the customer. :angry:

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I remember on my trip to the philippines, on the way back to the US, they looked at the game boy I had, and asked me to turn it on.

586008327[/snapback]

:laugh: Interesting typo there.

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Are there really so many terrorists that you need to ban mobile phones on an aircraft? If there aren't then there is no point restricting it... if there are then letting them talk on planes is the least of your worries!

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If airlines were really doing this for safety, they wouldn't charge like $5 a minute to make calls. They'd make the rates reasonable. But no, everything has to be about gouging the customer.  :angry:

586009928[/snapback]

Welcome to the wonderful would of capitalism.

Anyways, as BroChaos said, It will be a pain in the backside if people are yakking all flight long >.<

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Anyways, as BroChaos said, It will be a pain in the backside if people are yakking all flight long >.<

586009981[/snapback]

I agree, but the decision to ban them should be based on that, not on the hope of preventing terrorism. NEway, I couldn't imagine how annoying a plane full of mobile phone users would be. :no:

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Yes, it is capatalism, but you know the law is BCS when they're using it to screw you over. As I said, if it was really for safety, they wouldn't take advantage of it to screw you over. It's called using an unfair monopoly.

I just flew back and forth from the Middle East. I got back to NY Monday afternoon. I think it would be damn funny to have a whole plane full of mobile phone users. I'd like to see how many fights would start over it. The flight attendants would be running all over the place. Trust me, I need some excitement. I spent a lot of the flight both ways (it was 10 hours there, like 11:30 back, not including all the waiting before and after. Flight there was delayed 7 hours) doing nothing.

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Is it just me or does this seem completely stupid. Banning the use of mobile phones on a plane isn't going to stop a terrorist using one is it!

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