[photopress:chinasouthersmall.jpg,full,alignright]Are there are any times when it is acceptable/ permissible/ legal to use a mobile phone inflight?
Perhaps. Maybe. Pilots of a China Southern Airlines flight made an exception to allow a passenger named Wang to use a satellite telephone after leaving Shenzhen Special Economic Zone.
After the plane took off from Shenzhen Airport at about 2 pm, Wang realized he had forgotten to turn off his gas stove on which he had been cooking soup at home, while trying to catch the flight to Urumqi, capital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.
He told the crew on board that his home would catch fire unless the stove was turned off in time. Pilots used the satellite telephone to tell Wang’s wife, who was working in a local hospital, to go home to turn off the gas stove. It was the first time pilots had used the satellite telephone service to help a passenger.
Upon reaching Urumqi, Wang learnt from his wife that the stove had been turned off in time, thanks to the call.
Is this an excuse for allowing mobile phones on an aircraft?
Yes. But only if you live in Urumqi, capital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, and can prove it. Otherwise, no.
Source: Information Times
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