FORT WORTH- An American Airlines (AA) passenger was removed from a flight after being caught vaping in the lavatory on a Phoenix (PHX) to San Francisco (SFO) service.
The passenger, identified as Peter “Kobe” Nguyen, then accused the flight attendant of assault in a confrontation captured on video.
The incident occurred on August 4, 2025, aboard American Airlines flight AA2860, operated by an Airbus A321.
According to video footage posted online by Nguyen himself, the altercation escalated after the flight attendant opened the lavatory door in response to suspected vaping, a violation of Federal Aviation Regulations.
Photo: Clément AlloingAmerican Airlines Passenger Vaping
Nguyen, a self-described celebrity pickleball coach and AI expert, claimed he “only took one puff” of a vape. Regardless of the amount, vaping is prohibited on commercial aircraft.
According to OMAAT, the flight attendant reportedly opened the door while Nguyen was inside, leading to a heated verbal exchange.
In the footage, the flight attendant appears to reach toward Nguyen’s phone after noticing she was being recorded, although there is no visual evidence of physical contact.
Nguyen repeatedly accused her of assault, claimed to be a lawyer, and referenced his 25,000 social media followers. His remarks included demands for an apology and threats to call the police upon landing.
American Airlines later issued a statement confirming the passenger was removed at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) for disruptive behavior and apologized to other customers for the inconvenience.
Photo: File:Airbus A321-231(w) ‘N915US’ American Airlines (28442733186).jpg – Wikimedia CommonsAmerican Airlines Policy
While American Airlines’ internal policy prohibits recording employees without consent, doing so is not illegal under federal law.
Experts note that crew members are trained to handle such situations professionally, and reaching for a passenger’s device is not an advised response.
However, the passenger’s conduct, including false claims of being a lawyer and leveraging social media followership, appeared intended to deflect from the vaping violation.
The tactic of reframing the incident as an assault may have been a calculated attempt to shift public perception.
Photo: By Anna Zvereva from Tallinn, Estonia – American Airlines, N106NN, Airbus A321-231, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=41995921Consequences of In-Flight Vaping
Vaping or smoking on board any commercial flight is a federal offense under US aviation law, potentially resulting in fines of up to $4,000 and possible criminal charges.
Airlines treat such violations seriously, as they compromise passenger safety and can trigger smoke alarms in lavatories.
This incident highlights the broader issue of disruptive passenger behavior, which has been on the rise in recent years.
Carriers continue to urge travelers to comply with crew instructions and follow regulations to avoid legal repercussions and flight delays.
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