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An incident involving an American Airlines passenger has drawn attention after a video surfaced showing an altercation between a passenger and a flight attendant. Peter Nguyen, an online influencer, posted footage of himself being confronted by a flight attendant after he was found attempting to vape in the aircraft lavatory during American Airlines Flight 2860 from Phoenix to San Francisco.
The video shows the flight attendant reprimanding Nguyen, who then claims assault as she appears to reach for his camera. It is unclear from the recording whether any physical contact took place.
Vaping or smoking on commercial flights is illegal under federal law in the United States. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) can impose fines up to $37,000 for such offenses, depending on factors like previous violations and cooperation with authorities. Smoking bans on domestic flights have been in place since 1990, and airlines use smoke detectors in lavatories and enforce strict penalties for violations. Passengers caught smoking can face removal from flights, bans from future travel with the airline, and denial of rebooking privileges.
