I was on the OGG-DFW flight a few days ago, and I slept through the first 60% of the flight. I was in 3d, my wife in 3g, and my daughter in 4g. The reading lights failed for most seats right as the flight began and the volume for the IFE also was screwed up on most seats (either way too high or way too low). The pilot explained that this had all just failed, the flight into OGG everything had worked, and sorry, there was nothing they could do. The pilot also said we could write to corporate after the flight if we had a problem with the flight (as an FTer, I knew that meant compensation<). The gentlemen next to my daughter kept complaining to the FAs about the lack of reading light and IFE. My daughter said he never raised his voice or cursed, but apparently he kept complaining over and over again. Eventually the FAs kind of snapped and got pretty curt with him, but he still wouldn't give up. So, the pilot eventually came back and threated to land him at LAX and have him removed, and that shut him up.

The main problem I have is that I slept through all this! My daughter said the testiest verbal exchange happened when the FA was standing right next to me. I've now told my family to wake me up for food and deboarding threats. I would have loved to have reported on the particulars.

Watch what you wish for! It does sound like a good story to tell once it's over, but such confrontations and the build-up to them can be pretty uncomfortable to sit through (as opposed to sleep through).

I can understand the guys frustration, but what is complaining about it for the entire flight going to do? Certainly not fix it. Complaining only produces results when done at the right time to the right people.

While it may be uncomfortable to sit through, with IFE not working, that confrontation IS IFE.

Perhaps I'm missing something? The OP's initial post indicates no raised voice, no cursing, just continuing "commentary." In fact, the OP states the FA sorta "snapped" - NOT the pax. Okay. We've all been there and seen this type of pax - although IME experience it's generally the pax that "snaps" first. My point? - furstrating though it may be, this irritating action from a pax justifies a threat from the captain for flight DIVERSION??? Something seems wrong here - letting the airline know, once or once every five minutes, that their equipment is not performing as advertised, hardly seems a "crime!" Just my 2 cents....

"Oh Miss.. Oh Miss.., the IFE isn't working. Can you fix it?"
"No."

"Oh Miss.. Oh Miss.., the IFE isn't working. Can you fix it?"
"No."

"Oh Miss.. Oh Miss.., the IFE isn't working. Can you fix it?"
"No."

"Oh Miss.. Oh Miss.., the IFE isn't working. Can you fix it?"
"No."

"Oh Miss.. Oh Miss.., the IFE isn't working. Can you fix it?"
"No."

"Oh Miss.. Oh Miss.., the IFE isn't working. Can you fix it?"
"No."

"Oh Miss.. Oh Miss.., the IFE isn't working. Can you fix it?"
"No."

"Oh Miss.. Oh Miss.., the IFE isn't working. Can you fix it?"
"No."

"Oh Miss.. Oh Miss.., the IFE isn't working. Can you fix it?"
"No."

"Oh Miss.. Oh Miss.., the IFE isn't working. Can you fix it?"
"No."

"Oh Miss.. Oh Miss.., the IFE isn't working. Can you fix it?"
"No."

"Oh Miss.. Oh Miss.., the IFE isn't working. Can you fix it?"
"No."

"Oh Miss.. Oh Miss.., the IFE isn't working. Can you fix it?"
"No."

"Oh Miss.. Oh Miss.., the IFE isn't working. Can you fix it?"
"No."

"Oh Miss.. Oh Miss.., the IFE isn't working. Can you fix it?"
"No."

Irritating - as I already stated. But, qualifies for FLIGHT DIVERSION? - no way, IMO. We can't remove/arrest everyone we find annoying!

I hate the term deboard - it is a none word.

What's wrong with disembark?

Not sure which is worse, deboard or none word .

imagine being deboarded for something like that, well or anything for that matter. That will flag you for a long-time as a problem when you board any flight in the US next time.