Should Alec Baldwin Apologize for His Apology? ‘Words with Friends’ Enthusiast Has Unkind Words for Airline Industry

Alec Baldwin published a statement masquerading as an apology for his 'issue' with a certain flight attendant -- but the tone of his statement suggests he feels sorriest for himself. On Tuesday, Baldwin was ejected from an American Airlines flight after refusing to turn off his iPad while the plane was preparing for takeoff. He was reportedly playing the addictive game Words with Friends at the time.

According to My Flying Lesson, which he published on the Huffington Post Wednesday, Baldwin felt he was singled out by a flight attendant who insisted that he put away his device while other passengers were permitted to use theirs.

While other people were still manipulating their own phones, this one employee singled me out to put my phone away, Baldwin wrote. Afterward, we still sat at the gate. I pulled out my phone again, while others did the same.

Again, I was singled out by this woman in the most unpleasant of tones, the actor continued. I guess the fact that this woman, who had decided to make some example of me, while everyone else was left undisturbed, did get the better of me.

While the statement opens with a sincere-sounding apology to the passengers inconvenienced by the disruption, it ultimately dissolves into a missive on the deterioration of air travel in recent years - highlighted by an accusation some might find offensive.

It's no secret that the level of service on US carriers has deteriorated to a point that would make Howard Hughes red-faced, Baldwin wrote. Filthy planes, barely edible meals, cuts in jet service to less-traveled locations.

One of the big changes, in my time, is in the increase of the post-9/11, paramilitary bearing of much of the air travel business. September 11th was a horrific day in the airline industry, yet in the wake of that event, I believe carriers and airports have used that as an excuse to make the air travel experience as inelegant as possible.

Baldwin later updated the post to address some of the questions posed by commenters, and there he denied a claim made in a statement from American Airlines that he was ejected after behaving aggressively toward the crew, calling them inappropriate names and using offensive language.

No so, said Baldwin. I never yelled at or used inappropriate language to ANYONE on that plane. American's need to dirty me up is pro forma, but transparent.

Though Baldwin closed his Twitter account Wednesday, he remains a popular discussion topic there.

Alec Baldwin can take his 'apology' and flush it down the lav, tweeted @FlyingPhotog.

@flightblogger was equally unimpressed. Can we please stop calling what Alec Baldwin wrote 'an apology'?

Baldwin seemed to be offended about the fact that his Twitter retirement made the front page of the New York Post, but even @DRUNKHULK couldn't resist commenting. ALEC BALDWIN QUIT TWITTER! THAT 140 CHARACTER HE NO PLAY ANYMORE!

Still, the winning tweet goes to @iowahawkblog: Alec Baldwin: the Rosa Parks of fat white middle age celebrity millionaire First Class-cabin iPhone d--chebags.