Foreign Passenger Detained in Beijing for Vaping on Plane

Source: OT-Team(G)，法治进行时

  According to a report by Beijing Radio and Television Station (BRTV) on April 29, police at Beijing Daxing International Airport have detained a foreign national for smoking onboard an aircraft.

The incident occurred in the early hours of March 12, 2025. During the cruise phase of a flight from Kyrgyzstan to Beijing Daxing, crew members reported that a foreign passenger had used an e-cigarette while using the lavatory. The act triggered the smoke detector system, prompting the crew to alert authorities.

Upon landing, officers from the Daxing Airport Branch of the Beijing police department took the passenger into custody. In accordance with China's Public Security Administration Punishments Law, the individual was placed under administrative detention.

Smoking—including vaping—is strictly prohibited on all commercial flights in China. Authorities emphasize that the ban exists for multiple safety reasons. First, aircraft cabins are enclosed environments where secondhand smoke can harm other passengers. Second, smoke can trigger onboard fire alarms, potentially disrupting flight operations. Most critically, smoking in-flight poses a serious fire risk, endangering the safety of everyone onboard.