Well why don't they do a proper test and send up a CRJ with cell phones on only in row 9. They can repeatly switch the phone on and off and see if the problem is consistent. Sounds like a job for 'myth busters'
Mythbusters did do that job and the results were interesting.
They found that on the aeroplanes they tried mobile phones on, they could not find any interference.
However, they also built their own simulated light aircraft cockpit with the usual array of instruments. At first they used regular unshielded wire and when they used a mobile phone near the instruments, they found a heck of a lot of interference going on. They then swapped all the wire over to the shielded type used in aircraft and found that the interference disappeared.
I've mentioned all this before several times here and it's been ignored every time. Hopefully this time someone will take notice and remember - My point being that unless you can guarantee that 100% of the wiring in 100% of the aircraft is 100% shielded, then there is a real chance of mobile phone interference.