American Airlines calls Baldwin 'rude'

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 7 (UPI) -- American Airlines has issued a statement saying actor Alec Baldwin was asked to leave a flight after he "alarmed" the crew by being rude and slamming a door.

Baldwin and his publicist said Tuesday the "30 Rock" star was booted off the Los Angeles to New York flight because he wouldn't stop playing the online game "Words with Friends" when asked to do so by flight attendants.

But E! News said the airline offered a different version of events in its statement Wednesday.

"The passenger ultimately stood up [with the seat belt light still on for departure] and took his phone into the plane's lavatory," said the statement posted on the airline's Facebook page. "He slammed the lavatory door so hard, the cockpit crew heard it and became alarmed, even with the cockpit door closed and locked. They immediately contacted the cabin crew to check on the situation. The passenger was extremely rude to the crew, calling them inappropriate names and using offensive language."