A passenger was caught vaping on board an Alaska Airlines flight AS1463 from Seattle to Sacramento on Thursday, March 26. After landing, the passenger was met by law enforcement officers and banned from flying on Alaska Airlines.
A smoke alarm was triggered on Alaska Airlines
The incident occurred on board a Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft, where the smoke alarm in the lavatory was repeatedly activated at cruising altitude on the flight.
Following this, the crew followed all the safety protocols and alerted the authorities at Sacramento International Airport (SMF) before arriving.
In the air traffic control audio shared by Flight Simulator Fantasy, the pilot says:
“If you could pass along the message… could you please have law enforcement meet the aeroplane? We had a passenger set off a smoke alarm in one of our lavs [sic] using a vape of some kind and just want to have somebody talk to him.”
Airlines allow passengers to carry vapes in cabin luggage, but passengers are not allowed to vape inside the aircraft.
What happened after landing in Sacramento?
The plane landed safely at SMF around 11 a.m. Passengers disembarked safely and the local law enforcement officers were present to address the situation involving the passenger.
Authorities highlighted that vaping on aircraft is not only unsafe but also illegal. Smoke alarms on flights are very sensitive and are made to detect small traces of smoke or vapour.
An Alaska Airlines spokesperson said,
“We appreciate the professionalism our crew displayed when handling this situation, and we apologise to our guests for any concerns the situation caused.”
The FAA treats onboard fire risks with the highest level of seriousness. Aviation authorities and airlines continue to stress the importance of passenger compliance with safety regulations.
Have you ever undergone an in-flight incident like the one above? Tell us in the comments.
