An unruly passenger forced an American Airlines flight to be diverted after… Chasing a stewardess who asked him to stop vaping.
The Dallas, Texas-bound flight, which took off from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, around 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, was diverted to Tulsa, Oklahoma, because of the disruptive passenger, the airline said without providing further details.
The first-class passenger was openly vaping until a flight attendant warned him to stop, saying it was a violation of federal regulations, according to PYOKan airline news site run by a self-proclaimed international flight attendant.
The traveler denied vaping and then chased the flight attendant toward the front of the plane, before other passengers intervened to protect the crew member, PYOK reported.
The Dallas-bound flight took off from Milwaukee around 5:30 p.m. Tuesday.
The flight was diverted to Tulsa due to an unruly passenger.
American would not confirm those details, saying only that the flight was rerouted because of a “disruptive customer.”
The Tulsa airport confirmed that after landing, the individual who “smelled of alcohol” was met by airport police and transported to the Tulsa County Jail.
The flight, which had 103 passengers and five crew on board, then diverted to Tulsa, where police were waiting.
“We thank our team for their professionalism and apologize to our customers for the inconvenience,” American said in a statement.
The plane took to the skies again and arrived at Dallas Fort Worth Airport an hour later than planned.
Vaping on board airplanes is prohibited by federal regulations due to the risk of “smoke, fire and extreme heat,” according to the FAA.
Anyone caught vaping during a flight can be fined up to nearly $2,000 and, once on the ground, charged with a felony.
