CABIN ATTENDANT RPT; B767; IAD-LAX. FIRST CLASS PAX REFUSED TO GIVE UP DVD PLAYER TO CABIN ATTENDANT BEFORE LNDG. VERBAL ABUSE; THREATS.

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A FIRST CLASS PAX HAD BEEN TOLD BY PURSER THAT DVD EQUIP WOULD BE COLLECTED 30-45 MINS PRIOR TO LNDG; AS PER OUR PROC; TO ALLOW TIME FOR INVENTORY OF EQUIP AND OTHER PRELNDG DUTIES. THE PAX HAD BEEN AGITATED WITH THE PURSER AND OTHER FIRST CLASS FLT ATTENDANTS INFLT; SO THE PURSER REQUESTED THAT I COLLECT THE DVD EQUIP. UPON REQUESTING THE EQUIP; THE PAX SAID HE ONLY NEEDED A FEW MORE MINS (A COMMON COMMENT) TO COMPLETE HIS MOVIE; THAT HE WAS TAKING NOTES ON IT. I APOLOGIZED AND SAID THAT OUR PROC REQUIRED US TO COLLECT IT NOW. HE BECAME AGITATED; COMPLAINING IT WAS 30 MINS PRIOR TO LNDG -- WE HAD TIME. I EXPLAINED THAT WE HAD OTHER DUTIES TO COMPLETE AS WELL. HE RIPPED OFF HIS HEADSET; JERKED THE PLUG FROM THE OUTLET AND THREW THE EQUIP IN THE EMPTY SEAT BESIDE HIM. HE WAS GESTICULATING AND MUMBLING. I HEARD ONE OBSCENITY AND ASKED; 'EXCUSE ME; WHAT DID YOU SAY?' HE IGNORED ME AND CONTINUED MUMBLING; BREATHING ERRATICALLY; AND FIDGETING; AGITATED IN HIS SEAT. I SAID; 'PLEASE DON'T CURSE AT ME.' I REMOVED THE EQUIP AND APOLOGIZED FOR THE INCONVENIENCE. BASED SOLELY ON MY LIMITED INVOLVEMENT WITH THIS PAX; IT IS MY BELIEF THAT HE POSES A POTENTIAL THREAT TO CREW SAFETY BASED ON HIS BELLIGERENT; AGITATED; VERBALLY AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR. THIS PAX SEEMS VOLATILE; AND BASED ON THE EXPERIENCES OF MY FELLOW CREW MEMBERS; I BELIEVE HE SHOULD BE DENIED ACCESS TO AIR TRAVEL. I TRULY FELT THREATENED AND INTIMIDATED; AS THOUGH HE MIGHT HIT ME. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RPTR STATED THAT THIS PROC OF GIVING FIRST CLASS PAX INDIVIDUAL DVD PLAYERS JUST STARTED RECENTLY; BECAUSE THE UNITS THAT HAD BEEN BUILT INTO THEIR SEAT UNITS WERE UNRELIABLE; BREAKING ALL THE TIME. THESE INDIVIDUAL DVD PLAYERS ARE EXPENSIVE; SO THEY HAVE TO BE INVENTORIED BEFORE LNDG; AND LOCKED IN A CART AND STOWED IN THE GALLEY. WITH THE OTHER SYS; THE PAX COULD KEEP PLAYING THE MOVIE ALL THE WAY TO THE GATE; IF NECESSARY. THIS PAX HAD BEEN VERY VOLATILE THE WHOLE FLT; WHICH STARTED WITH THE FACT THAT THE AIRPLANE HADN'T BEEN A B777. WHEN THE RPTR STEPPED IN TO HELP AS A MORE NEUTRAL PARTY; SHE DIDN'T EXPECT HIS EXPLOSION AND WAS SCARED AND AFRAID HE WAS GOING TO HIT HER.