Self-proclaimed ‘celebrity pickleball coach’ Peter “Kobe” Nguyen turned getting caught vaping inflight into a viral spectacle when he filmed a heated exchange with the American Airlines flight attendant who caught him on a flight from Phoenix to San Francisco.
Nguyen was accused of using an e-cigarette in the lavatory. In his own self-incriminating recording, he first apologized but quickly accused the crew member of opening the lavatory door while he was inside and of grabbing his phone. He called this an “assault,” announced that he’s a lawyer (not the first time we’ve seen that claim in the past month) and threatened to post the video to his 25,000 Instagram followers unless she apologized on the spot.
The crewmember initially refused but then offered a brief apology to de-escalate things. The passenger was unsatisfied (shock, I know) and warned he might call the police upon landing. Involving the police in your own federal crime seems… unwise.
American Airlines later confirmed he was removed on arrival in San Francisco for his disruptive behavior. Nguyen claimed the airline told him an internal investigation was underway. I suspect he misunderstands, thinking that the investigation is of the crewmember rather than of her CERS report.
Interestingly, the rule against vaping onboard really is just the rule against smoking even though the two are very different.
- The FAA has interpreted the prohibition on cigarette smoking to include vaping products. According to the rulemaking,
The NPRM stated our position that the reasons supporting the statutory and regulatory ban on smoking also apply to a ban on e-cigarettes
- That’s the case even though the FAA rule explicitly allows a passenger to emit vapor if it is from a “medically beneficial substance.” So it’s not about banning vapor.
- The regulation simply extends the ban on cigarettes to include e-cigarettes, which weren’t contemplated when the law against on board smoking was passed.
Note also that the concern wasn’t batteries, as some people mistakenly believe. Laptops, cell phones, tablets, and noise cancelling headphones are permitted. And the ban on vaping predates concerns over external batteries. Plus, airlines do have procedures – and burn bags – for dealing with outlier issues inflight.
There’s a stigma against vaping, and other passengers might think vapers are smoking a cigarette even though they aren’t.
The first airline to create a nonsmoking section was United back in 1971. No U.S. airline fully banned smoking worldwide until Delta in 1994. U.S. airlines were still allowed to offer on board smoking up until 2000.
Yet planes still have ashtrays! You’ll usually find them in or near the lavatory, because customers may smoke even though it’s illegal to do so – and they need a place to put out their cigarettes. Without ashtrays they’d be most likely to put out their cigarettes in the lavatory trash.. and light the paper tossed away inside on fire.
One passenger who lit her cigarette inflight says police beat her after flight attendants spiked her drink. And in 2020 a passenger lit up a cigarette after refusing to wear a mask on board.
Before the pandemic another passenger downed 4 bottles of beer, vaped an e-cigarette, and punched a flight attendant all before his honeymoon. Another lit a cigarette, drank his own booze, and bit a flight attendant’s ear. While a man who burned himself with his own e-cigarette on board had the temerity to sue the airline.
(HT: Paul H)
Again…if you cannot handle putting your vape away for TWO HOURS to take a flight, stay the F home. So sick of entitled people of self-importance who think they can just do whatever they want, rules be damned.
We are not a serious people.
This little chit is the classic example of the entitled me, me, me mentality. I can’t be the only person who is sick of this on-board baloney when I’ve paid for my seat and can behave myself for the duration of the flight. It’s past time for a lifetime, all airline no-fly lists to be instituted and enforced.
Quite the ‘pickle’ he got himself in.
Gary, vaping is obviously ‘smoking’ in this context; so, let’s not give this rule-breaker any ‘out,’ on a technicality.
If Nguyen is a licensed attorney, I think a bar complaint is appropriate, because it is unethical to falsely accuse others of ‘assault,’ when that FA was absolutely authorized to enter when a violation was likely taking place.
@Parker & @MPirro — 100%
@Denver Refugee — Nice use of the ‘not serious people’ Succession meme.
This guy looks like a total pussy and somehow thinks he’s got the Kobe training mentality, just without any of the physical talent.
I have a lawyer, I am a lawyer ….. Well a fuc$ing lawyer would know its a federal offense….
@MPirro: No coincidence we see this “me me me” mentality coming from a social media influencer.
I cannot stress the negative impact social media is having on everyday life.
Why are you defending vaping as if it should be allowed on planes?
Vaping could include all kinds of substances and I am sure other passengers are not waiting to inhale whatever left over junk comes out. please.
I don’t care if most are harmless. You can’t make this rule by allowing some and not others. You’d have a shitshow on every plane.
Vaping is banned on planes, period. This a-hole should be banned on all planes forever. HAve fun vaping while driving your car across country, a-hole.
So sick of this entitlements. An airline wide ban is what we need so all the jerks will be banned over time.
@MPirro – “It’s past time for a lifetime, all airline no-fly lists to be instituted and enforced.”
I’m increasingly of the opinion that air travel might need to move to a “default deny” model.
Instead of a “no-fly list,” enact a “cleared to fly” list for people who have undergone a background check, undergone training on transportation rules and passenger etiquette and passed the requisite certification exams.
Gary, your comment about “medically beneficial substances” does not appear to be correct. I’ve read the rule, and it states as follows: “Smoking means the use of a tobacco product, electronic cigarettes whether or not they are a tobacco product, or similar products that produce a smoke, mist, vapor, or aerosol, with the exception of products (other than electronic cigarettes) which meet the definition of a medical device in section 201(h) of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, such as nebulizers”. So, a passenger cannot simply declare that they feel they using a “medically beneficial device”, it has to be one listed as such by the FDA.
Dude needs a good ass beating to humble hos sorry entitled ass.
Sadly, Mr. Pickle Ball Coach is likely receiving a lot of views on his Instagram, which I’m sure was his initial motivation.
I’m glad to see majority of comments against this crap!
He turned off commenting on his Instagram post, hah! But if you really can’t go 1.5 hours without your addiction, you shouldn’t be flying.
But yes, I second filing a complaint with the California or Arizona BAR.
It’s also possible that this jabroni’s strategy in his demand for an apology is to attempt to extract ‘guilt’ by admission. Some attorneys advise their clients to never even say ‘sorry’ to an opposing party, lest that be used as ‘evidence’ that they admitted to wrongdoing. The FA is not wrong here regardless if what they say; the prep who was vaping violated federal rules against smoking on planes. Book ‘em!
@Tim ja — It seems counterintuitive, but yes, sometimes, lawyers absolutely should hire qualified counsel, especially since most attorneys are mere specialists for their specific practice areas; kinda like how a doctor may not be the ‘right’ doctor for your situation. ‘Could’ a pediatrist do dental work? Sure, but it might feel like you got kicked in the mouth!
Another prime candidate for the no-fly list.
Yep, I’m with @Parker too. If an addiction, hope he gets the help he needs.
@1990 — Nice pun, quite the pickle indeed. “Say sorry right now”? “I apologize for nothing!”
@Denver Refugee — I second the approval of your Succession reference. Such a good scene.
@1990, @L737 – I’ve never watched that series, I’m sorry to admit. But that line has been floating around a number of places for quite a few years.
SFO to PHX air time is like 90 minutes. This moron couldn’t wait a couple of hours? Hope he’s put on a permanent No Fly List. He can go to his “pickle ball” matches via Greyhound.
@L737 — ‘How deliciously absurd!’
@Denver Refugee — Oh, you’re missing out, pal. The banter between Tom and ‘Greg the egg’ is legendary. And, once you do catch up, you’ll realize that “you can’t make a Tomelet without breaking a few Gregs…”
When flying with American Airlines, safety is their top priority. Kudos to the American Airlines flight attendant who quickly addressed an activated lavatory smoke detector during their flight. Flight attendants often serve as first responders in situations where a passenger decides to use the lavatory to relieve themselves or wash their hands, but then makes the dangerous choice to either self-immolate, smoke, or vape while seated on the toilet.
If the passenger does not self-immolate in the lavatory, they should return to their seat to enjoy tasty airline snacks and a refreshing adult beverage while safely buckled up in case of any turbulence before landing. However, suppose the passenger is unfortunate enough to cause harm to themselves through self-immolation. In that case, they will likely forfeit any remaining AAdvantage® miles and American Airlines loyalty points, though they may qualify for a 50% discount on cremation services.
@Ken A — I’m with you, sir, especially on the ‘self-immolations,’ it has gotten out of hand. Like, if you’re gonna do that, do it at home, like a gentleman. ‘Thank you for your attention to this matter!’
Addiction is at catastrophic levels. Almost all the craziest air stories are alcohol related, but this is vaping.
Alcohol, smoking, vapes, meth, porn, social media. It’s insane. I’m two years sober and so damn happy I don’t rely on anything anymore as a crutch. Vaping is horrible. It’s horrible for you, it’s looks So Stupid and it’s obviously all the addiction smoking is. The worst part is they are full-on marketing straight at teens.
I wish everyone out there struggling to make it clean one day. Now if I could only get the pizza and sweets syringe out of my arm.
Damn, I would have loved to see the Flight Attendant come back with “….you’re a…… pickleball celebrity?????” and then start laughing hysterically.
Ridicule is ***the best*** response to self-indulgent arrogance.
So sick and tired of these influencers / scammers. Just reading an article about an influencer / scammer / grifter basically jacking up a New Orleans restaurant for $300 food and drink and didn’t want to pay. Got kind of nasty and the owners asked the grifter to at least pay a tip for the server. Didn’t do that either. The restaurant owners have called her sorry ass out for the scammer she is
@Coffee Please — Wow, that’s not even scamming; that’s just theft. Psh.
@1990:
As you know I prefer flying in Europe to the good ole’ U. S. of A.
But, I do have to admit that what happens on U. S. Airlines is an absolute hoot. Reminds me of the time father flew from IDL to LHR in the late 50’s. As he was leaving home for the airport, I asked him why he was wearing a suit and he said, I swear, that if you don’t want to wear a suit, go ride a bus. 75 years later, some things don’t change.
Pilot/FA: “we are having a pickleball emergency, unless we have a celebrity coach, we will need to divert…and not just a regular coach, but someone who specializes in celebrities”
To all the “you can’t go 1.5 hours…” yeah that’d be true if all the smoking lounges at airports hadn’t dissipated in the “land of the free”.
Dude’s an idiot though, not that hard to lock the door and take a drag or two.
That’s about a 90 minute flight – what the h3ll is wrong with people? He couldn’t wait?? If your mental status is so delicate maybe stay home!
Just like George Floyd.
@AlanZ — Yup, these days… I see far more sweatpants than bow-ties.