in #CASE you missed it… Plane Reroutes After Passenger Lights a Cig
Thirty years ago, airline passengers puffed away in smoke-filled cabins while flight attendants made sure they stayed lit by handing out books of matches. Today, just taking a few puffs off a cigarette is enough for the pilot to turn the plane around, ruining the trip for everyone.
That's exactly what happened on an Alaska Airlines flight from San Francisco to Philadelphia on Wednesday. Apparently unable to wait any longer for his nicotine fix, a man lit a cigarette during the flight, airline officials say. Although he readily complied when a flight attendant asked him to put it out, he became "belligerent" and began walking up and down the isle. The pilot decided to reroute the flight and land in Chicago "due to a disruptive passenger onboard and out of an abundance of caution," the airline reports.
The man, whose name wasn't released, was taken into custody by Chicago police. It's not known whether he'll be charged. The plane refueled, deodorized the cabin and resumed its journey to Philadelphia.
While it's definitely rude, should lighting a cigarette be a crime? Do you have an in-flight horror story to share?