United Airlines refused to embark a US citizen at a Paris airport Wednesday, a day after he was taken off a flight for using a mobile phone, sources close to the investigation said.

A fight broke out on a the US airline's flight to Washington on Tuesday when the 20-year-old passenger refused to stop using his phone shortly after takeoff, and four American air security agents intervened.

The pilot turned the craft back to Charles de Gaulle airport where police took charge of the Colorado-born man before later releasing him.