Foreign Passenger Detained for Vaping in Airplane Lavatory

Foreign Passenger Detained for Vaping in Airplane Lavatory

On July 15th, the police at Beijing Daxing International Airport reported a case involving a foreign male passenger who caused panic among the crew by hiding in the airplane lavatory to smoke an electronic cigarette. The individual has since been penalized for his actions.

The incident in question occurred on the night of June 14th, 2024, during a flight from Zhoushan to Beijing Daxing. At cruising altitude, the smoke alarm was suddenly triggered, prompting the crew to follow the emergency protocol discreetly to avoid alarming passengers. Upon investigation, it was discovered that a foreign passenger had been using an electronic cigarette in the restroom at the rear of the cabin.

Upon landing, police officers from the Daxing Airport Station brought the passenger to the station for questioning. The individual confessed that he had hoped to evade detection, wrongly assuming that the electronic cigarette would not set off the smoke alarm. As a result, he was detained under the Public Security Administration Punishment Law.

A similar incident occurred on June 27th, 2024, during boarding on a flight from Beijing Daxing to Shanxi Changzhi. While performing a cabin safety check, a flight attendant detected a strong smell of smoke. It was found that a passenger, identified as Mr. Li, was smoking an electronic cigarette at his seat. Believing that vaping did not fall under the no-smoking policy and having missed the in-flight no-smoking announcement, Mr. Li used his e-cigarette. After being educated on the laws by the police, he acknowledged the severity of his actions and was fined accordingly.

The Civil Aviation Administration of China emphasizes the prohibition of smoking, including electronic cigarettes, on aircrafts. Violations of these regulations may result in penalties under the Public Security Administration Punishment Law of the People's Republic of China, and criminal charges may be pursued for severe offenses.

Travelers are urged to respect these regulations and use designated smoking areas in the airport terminal for smoking needs, including electronic cigarettes, to ensure the safety and comfort of all passengers aboard civil aircraft.

Source: 北京青年报

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