A BUSINESSMAN is facing a possible jail sentence for keeping his mobile phone switched on during a flight.

Faiz Chopdat, 23, of Romney Walk, Blackburn, was arrested and accused of endangering the lives of travellers and crew because his phone could have interfered with flight frequencies.

A jury heard Chopdat had been seen pressing buttons on his Eriksson T28 mobile as the Beoing 747 holiday jet with an unspecified number of passengers made its way from Luxor in Egypt to Manchester Airport.

Chopdat, who was alleged to have switched the phone on several times, then became aggressive when asked by other passengers and cabin crew to turn it off.

Staff on the Air 2000 flight were so concerned about his behaviour they radioed ahead and Chopdat was arrested on touch-down at Manchester.

Yesterday at Manchester Corn Court, Chopdat of Romney Walk, Blackburn, was convicted of recklessly endangering the safety of an aircraft after a three-day trial.

He denied the charge and will be sentenced next month.

Remanding Chopdat on conditional bail, Judge Timothy Mort said he would have to examine reports and studies on the dangers of mobile phones being used aboard aircraft.

But he warned Chopdat: "There is a distinct possibility I will have to pass a custodial sentence -- as much as anything as a deterrent element.

"Obviously I will consider very carefully what probation officers have to say about you. But I cannot give you any guarantee."

Earlier the jury heard Chopdat boarded flight AMA401D at2pm on the afternoon of September 10.

Before the plane left the tarmac, passengers were repeatedly told to ensure their phones remained switched off thoughout the flight.

Steven Johnson, prosecuting, said that about an hour from Manchester, a passenger and subsequently a flight attendant noticed Chopdat's phone was on and the screen illuminated.

Mr Johnson said Chopdat was also seen pressing buttons on the phone.

A female member of the cabin crew asked him to turn it off but 15 minutes later it was noticed it was on again.

Mr Johnson said: "The defendant was approached again to switch it off.

"He waved the phone aggresively and said: 'It's off, it's off, get out of my face'.

"He was warned on at least two occasions. One passenger thought the phone was on because he heard a beep.

"When he asked the defendant to switch it off he said: 'Shut up or you'll get a slap'.

"Another heard a bleep but when she asked the defendant if his phone was on he said: 'What's it got to do with you?'"

The court heard that when mobile phones were switched on, an "initialisation process" began which meant the phone began receiving and transmitting radio signals.

Mr Johnson said: "If this occurs it poses an unacceptable risk to safety because the process interferes with the aeroplane's navigational systems."

Chopdat was arrested at Manchester Airport.