Consumer rights watchdog Deco says the man had authorities waiting for him at Funhal airport for disobeying cabin crew and two months later received the fine, which a court upheld.
The airline said the aircraft in question could still have been affected by phones in flight mode, and the transgression was a very serious offence.
The airline has not been identified.
Fake News I'm afraid
By James from Madeira on 17 May 2019, 12:33
Completely fake. And even if it was requested by crew members they would have a hard time to prove that a mobile phone in airplane mode would affect in any way the aircraft. (all type of radio communications are off in airplane mode)
By Pedro from UK on 18 May 2019, 19:03