The issue with phones on a plane just seems to be overloading cells. There is a limited number of frequencies available and the system relies on the fact that you shouldn't ever be seen by more than a couple cells and thats during handover.

He had an Ericsson T68 I believe. Can't remember exactly as it was on the news so long ago.
Most of the PDA/phone ones can have the radio turned off but I've yet to find a normal phone that can. There is some software for my 7650 which does alledgely turn off the radio portion but I doubt the flight crew would trust it/me.

- Trevor