A pilot of an Alaskan Airline plane was left with no choice but to divert a red-eye flight after a “belligerent” passenger tried to light up a cigarette twice inside the cabin.
According to a report by CNN, the Alaska Airlines’ red-eye flight 1138 bound for Philadelphia from San Francisco was force to make an unexpected landing in Chicago after a passenger tried to smoke in the plane.
The plane was only an hour away from landing to Philadelphia when pilots were forced to divert to O’Hare International Airport.
The source stated that the man decided to light up a cigarette and was immediately reprimanded by a cabin crew member.
However, the man did not comply with the crew’s instructions and tried to light it again.
“Due to a disruptive passenger onboard and out of an abundance of caution, the flight was diverted to Chicago and landed at 4:22 a.m. local time,” CNN quoted Alaska Airlines as saying.
Authorities escorted the passenger off the plane and the incident added an hour onto the travel time of the said flight since the diversion required the plane to refuel.
It is unclear if the passenger will be facing legal charges but CNN noted that the Federal Aviation Administration are now conducting an investigation.
Inflight smoking has been banned nearly 30 years ago due to the threats it can bring to the safety and security of the flight and the people inside the plane.
Despite the smoking ban, aircrafts still have ashtrays inside the cabin as there are passengers who still break this rule and there needs to be a safe place where a lit cigarette can be disposed.
