Originally Posted by
cerealmarketer
Funny aside, but he also has his seat in the recline position during his pre-police cell phone conversation.
It makes it easier to get in and out of the seat, given how badly cramped the seats are. If he was going to get off the plane, seat being reclined may be the way to more easily get up and out of a non-aisle seat without grabbing onto the seatback in front of the passenger. Or maybe this was yet another case of a UA seat that reclines based on passenger weight/pressure even without use of the recline button. I've had those on US too.