A Delta Air Lines passenger, who confessed to using an electronic device last month to record a bird strike shortly after takeoff, has received a warning from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to adhere to regulations or face potential penalties in the future.
The flight destined for Los Angeles had to make an emergency landing at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York on April 19 due to an engine issue caused by a bird strike, an incident captured on video by Grant Cardone.
Following widespread media attention, the FAA conducted an investigation and issued a letter to Cardone. The video depicts a group of birds striking the right engine, leading to its shutdown.
James Giles, FAA supervisory principal operations inspector, wrote in the letter to Cardone, “We have considered all the facts. Instead of pursuing legal enforcement action (a civil penalty), we are issuing this letter, which will be on record for two years. After that period, the record will be expunged.”
The FAA mandates that portable electronic devices must be turned off during critical phases of flight to prevent interference with the aircraft’s navigation and communication systems.
Cardone, in an interview with CNN’s Soledad O’Brien, stated, “I don’t believe I’m above the law or that anyone should be.” He argued that the idea of a device causing a plane to crash is absurd, emphasizing that a significant percentage of passengers carry smartphones and tablets.
Cardone, who claims to have flown thousands of flights, highlighted the inconsistency, suggesting that if these devices were genuinely dangerous, the FAA should outright ban them from planes.
Despite Cardone’s assertion, the FAA stressed that Delta adheres to regulations when flight attendants instruct passengers to turn off and stow electronic devices “for safety reasons.” The FAA warned Cardone that failure to comply during critical flight phases and emergencies could jeopardize the safe outcome of a flight.
Fortunately, the plane landed safely with no reported injuries. Cardone concluded, “If these electronics are truly hazardous to the public, the FAA has a responsibility to ban them from planes today.”