Was there an FAA inspector on board? Here's a copy of a post I made 2 years ago . . . .

FAA Inspector On Board Delays Flight an Hour - Please Read Why!

Recently flying MSP/ATL, first, delayed 10 minutes - something about a loose bolt that holds a fire extinguisher bracket. No problem. Ready to board - No go. Almost another hour. FA tells me what happened:

Visualize the emergency exit row placards that have little cartoon drawings showing how to open the exit. The way it was explained to me, the drawings are different from right side to left side, due to (I guess) the curvature of the plane, the way the seats are placed next to the window, etc. Well, this plane had 2 of the "same side placards" - on right & left, instead of the correct ones - right for right side & left for left side!

The FA said they tried to work something out, including putting crew in the exit row, but the inspector said the plane wasn't going anywhere til it was fixed! Period.

The FA seemed to think that the theory is, that in case of emergency, someone could be disoriented, & it might take a little longer to understand the incorrect placard.

1:01 late leaving the gate - then another half hour or more to deice, even though the pilot said it would be 10 min, as we were 1st in line.