Gothamist

A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.

Gothamist

Listen Live

Donate

News

Jets QB Geno Smith Kicked Off Airplane For Bad Cell Phone Behavior

By

Ben Yakas

Published Jan 18, 2014

Modified Jan 18, 2014

Share

FacebookTwitterRedditEmail

Never miss a story

 Email address

By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .

By

Ben Yakas

Published Jan 18, 2014

Modified Jan 18, 2014

Share

FacebookTwitterRedditEmail

We rely on your support to make local news available to all

Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

Jets quarterback Geno Smith was kicked off a Virgin America flight at LAX yesterday after he allegedly refused to stop using his cell phone and got into a shouting match with an airline attendant. Or as one airport official told the Post, he "pulled an Alec Baldwin." Geno no no no no no no!

There are actually a few mostly non-conflicting reports about what Smith did to get himself escorted off the plane, which was headed from LAX to Fort Lauderdale, where Smith lives in the offseason:

• Deadspin first reported that Smith was witnessed in a "verbal altercation." That witness told them Smith was upset because he was on standby for the flight, saying to airline ticket agents, "Fuck that, this is bullshit" and "Why the fuck do I have to wait until 2:40."
• A source told the News that Smith did get aboard the plane and, "The flight crew asked him to get off his cellphone three times, but he didn’t comply." Another source told the Post, "[Smith] was on the plane. The crew didn’t push off [take-off] because he was on the phone. So, the captain ordered him off the plane. Virgin America wouldn’t rebook him."
• TMZ claims that Smith was listening to music on his headphones when the crew announced it was time to shut off electronics. Smith claimed he didn't hear the announcement, and the flight attendant came over and physically unplugged his headphones. They led to a screaming match, and Smith allegedly stood up and refused to sit down.
• On top of all this, Smith denied he did anything wrong. "[Smith] said he didn’t know why he was kicked off the flight," a source told the News. "He said it was because he was black. Virgin Airlines refused to re-book him because he was being disruptive." Smith told TMZ as he was leaving the airport, "don't believe that man."

Deadspin reckons that all of these incidents could have happened: "it seems entirely possible—and indeed likely—that Geno Smith got in trouble with the cops twice in one day." The Jets acknowledged the incident in a statement: "We are aware of the report and researching the fact. We will have no comment at this time." On the plus side, at least no open containers of vaseline were involved with Smith's arrest.

Tagged

airplane

football

geno smith

jets

kicked off

LAX

sports

Ben Yakas

Ben Yakas is a former Gothamist reporter.

Read more

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

MORE news

Early Addition: Eric Adams did not convince a Wisconsin town to build a data center

Because the vote against it was unanimous, here are your early links: Jacket weather, swishing your Guinness, spooky decorations in North Jersey and more.

By

James Ramsay

Published Oct 14, 2026 at 8:28 a.m. ET

Hit-and-run driver arrested trying to flee to Uzbekistan after deadly crash, NYPD says

Police arrested 22-year-old Sobirjon Abdurazakov for a hit-and-run that killed a 62-year old Lyft driver.

By

Brittany Kriegstein

News

Hit-and-run driver arrested trying to flee to Uzbekistan after deadly crash, NYPD says

Police arrested 22-year-old Sobirjon Abdurazakov for a hit-and-run that killed a 62-year old Lyft driver.

By

Brittany Kriegstein

NY measles outbreak more widespread than official count, health officials say

By

Caroline Lewis

A NYC judge brought his gun into court for an ‘experiment’. Now he’s censured.

By

Samantha Max

The Bronx is getting a new casino and a reimagined Ferry Point Park, too

By

Willow Higgins

Never miss a story

Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.

Sign upEmail address

By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .