In an incident that truly made heads turn, three daring tourists brazenly breached the no-smoking norm on a Nok Air flight, creating quite the ruckus among fellow passengers. This high-flying misadventure unfolded on Sunday, January 5, aboard flight DD-532, which was whisking travelers from Bangkok’s bustling Don Mueang International Airport to the idyllic shores of Phuket. Picture this: right in the middle of the cabin, a man unabashedly blew puffs of vapor while engrossed in his phone, undeterred by the stares of curious onlookers. Another miscreant decided to seek covert cover, yet humorously missed the irony as they sneaked off to the loo for a drag, bringing a touch of drama when it comes to airplane etiquette.
The once pristine cabin air quickly became infused with a distinctly sweet fragrance, prompting concerned passengers to signal the crew. Neeranoot Meuankid, one of the alert travelers, provided her eyewitness account, saying, “They caught attention back at the boarding gate with their antics, puffing brazenly even while in line. The in-flight scent overcame all barriers, including my mask, making my head spin a bit.”
Neeranoot also diligently recorded one of the tourists openly ignoring the safety briefing and skipping the safety belt routine altogether during take-off. Her timely video evidence helped the diligent flight attendants to swiftly bring the chaos to a halt mid-air. Upon their smooth landing in lively Phuket, the vape-loving crew was met by police officers who smoothly escorted them off the plane and straight into the arms of airport security. The identities, nationalities, and potential charges concerning these individuals are, for the moment, cloaked in mystery.
Neeranoot expressed her bewilderment at such blatant disdain for no-smoking statutes, commenting, “It’s 2025, and you’d think by now people would understand that smoking on planes is utterly verboten. Their antics exemplified a glaring disrespect for everyone’s safety and well-being.”
The aviation safety dictum here couldn’t be clearer: any form of smoking or vaping is a no-go on flights, whether domestic or international. In the land of smiles, vaping has faced a ban since 2014, though you wouldn’t guess it with the colorful array still gracing street markets. Getting caught with a vape in hand or merely in possession of one can result in a hefty fine of up to 30,000 Baht (approximately US$910) or even a maximum jail term of five years.
This incident, alongside myriad unfolding events in the vibrant patchwork of Thailand’s happenings, paints a lively, sometimes eyebrow-raising picture of the country’s newsscape. Most recently, news has rippled through the locales of Buriram, Phuket, and Bangkok with stories ranging from daring copper thefts to peculiar surgeries, and even meltdowns over ID card ceremonies. Meanwhile, significant developments include a Chinese New Year splash by Central Pattana and a foreign hype over Thai gasoline consumption trends, reflecting both quirky and serious facets of daily life. Indeed, amidst the buzz, it seems there’s never a dull moment atop Thailand’s colorful tapestry.
Can’t believe people still think it’s okay to smoke on a plane in this day and age! What were they thinking?
Right? The audacity is shocking! Aren’t these rules common sense by now?
@AviationLover88 Exactly! They’re risking not just their own safety, but everyone else’s on the plane too.
Actually, rules and regulations often feel different to tourists, especially if they haven’t traveled much.
I think it also shows a lack of respect for local laws.
What a wild journey! I’m curious if the vape-loving crew will face serious consequences or just a slap on the wrist.
This is why I always feel uneasy flying from Bangkok – strange things happen on these flights!
Not all flights are like that. A lot depends on the passengers you’re with.
It’s more common than you might think. Some people just can’t let go of their vapes, laws be damned.
It’s such a selfish attitude! People should be more considerate to others around them.
I wonder if this incident will prompt any new security measures at Thai airports.
Probably not, they’ve already got strict enough measures in place. This seems more like a fluke.
The lenient possibility is they get fined and banned from flying Nok Air for a while. Not enough, in my opinion.
Why is everyone so mad? It’s just some vape, not even a real cigarette!
The rules are there for a reason – it’s about safety and respect for other passengers.
That’s a very simplistic way to look at it. Smoking restrictions are there to prevent fires too!
When will people learn that planes are not their living room? Show some decorum people.
I was on that flight! The whole cabin was in chaos, people were arguing back and forth.
Wow, firsthand account! Must have been crazy to witness that.
Thailand might seem lenient, but they are serious about vapes. The fines should serve as a big warning!
It’s true, but clearly, not everyone gets the memo. Sometimes, bringing down the hammer is necessary.
I’m really going to miss out on these entertaining Thai news stories next time I travel. Always something happening!
At least, with all the drama, their arrest at the airport must have been the deciding end they needed.
Gosh, planes are already icky enough! Hope the air was clear for landing.
Thankfully, things cleared up mid-flight. Kudos to the crew for handling it quickly.
Those tourists are why we can’t have nice things. They ruin it for everyone else.
It’s always tourists pulling stunts like these. No surprise there!
It’s not always tourists. Locals can be equally reckless.
Let this be a lesson for all would-be rebels: always follow aviation rules or get ready to face the music.
Indeed, especially with flights being such serious business; we don’t need more dramas in the air!
With the fines and risk of getting jailed, it baffles me why anyone would still attempt this.