Gosh, I remember this thread. Seems so long ago...
If you didn't mean to sink or damage someone and you appologise (a lot!), you generally shouldn't get kicked off. But, other players do have the right to expect not to be damaged through someone else's carelessness.
If they've spent an hour getting through to where they wanted to be and you sink them (even by accident), I can understand the emotions getting high.
"just a game".