Today, two men from Estonia were apprehended and fined at Suvarnabhumi International Airport for smoking onboard a flight, despite repeated warnings from the cabin crew that such actions were against the law.
In a parallel incident, authorities in Thailand are endeavoring to track down a woman filmed vaping during a flight originating from Mae Fah Luang airport.
Upon landing in Bangkok, the crew of the Finnair flight promptly reported to Suvarnabhumi Airport officials that the two siblings had indulged in smoking inside the aircraft’s restroom during the journey.
Despite being instructed to cease their actions, they persisted in smoking on five separate occasions. Consequently, they were each issued fines amounting to 20,000 Baht.
In another incident, a video circulated widely online depicting a woman vaping during a flight. The identity and nationality of the woman in question remain undisclosed.
Somchanok Tiamtiabrat, the director of Mae Fah Luang International Airport, mentioned that the customary passenger and baggage screening processes typically identify hazardous items in airports. However, he noted that certain e-cigarettes, being made of plastic, might evade detection.
Under the Tobacco Product Control Act 2017, smoking aboard airplanes is expressly forbidden, with violators subject to imprisonment for up to one year and/or fines not exceeding 40,000 baht upon conviction.
Following the viral spread of the video, netizens raised concerns about how airport authorities allowed these e-cigarettes to pass through security and board the aircraft.
