Man Fights Flight Attendant After Vaping on U.S. Flight, Faces Hefty Fine

Key points:

A passenger caused a conflict on a US flight by vaping an e-cigarette. 

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) can fine up to $1771 for such behavior, as federal law strictly prohibits smoking on airplanes. 

The incident has sparked a social media frenzy with onlookers and critics commenting on those involved.

According to a report by zoombangla on August 6th, a passenger of American Airlines named Peter 'Kobe' Nguyen got into a conflict with flight attendants after using an e-cigarette on a flight, sparking a heated debate on flight safety online. Nguyen alleged that the flight attendants attacked him after he was caught using the e-cigarette on the plane. The incident was captured on video by Nguyen himself and shared on his Instagram account with 25,000 followers, drawing public attention.

The incident occurred on American Airlines flight 2860, where a heated dispute erupted between a passenger named Ruan and a flight attendant. Ruan claimed he was disturbed by the flight attendant opening the lavatory door while he was using an e-cigarette and apologized for it. However, the flight attendant did not accept his apology and emphasized that the safety of all passengers was her top priority. When the flight attendant tried to touch Ruan's phone, he alleged that he was being attacked. Despite the crew denying this, Ruan declared himself a "lawyer" and threatened to call the police and file a lawsuit.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations, smoking or using e-cigarettes on flights is not only prohibited but also considered a federal crime, with fines of up to $1,771. In 2023, the FAA proposed fines of over $5 million for unruly passengers, including several incidents related to e-cigarette use. Aviation security expert Jeff Price pointed out that interfering with detectors on airplanes could endanger the safety of hundreds of passengers, which is why the law takes a firm stance on such behavior.

Nguyen claims to have initiated legal proceedings due to being a victim of online violence, with their video widely circulated. However, legal experts have stated that the so-called "attacks" must involve a "reasonable sense of fear," not just physical harm. Social media users have generally criticized Nguyen's actions, with some pointing out that claiming to be a "lawyer" is suspicious behavior, and reminding them that they cannot evade responsibility.