Passenger Removed From American Airlines Flight After Vaping in Lavatory, Threatening crew & Claiming legal Status
San Francisco, CA – August 12, 2025 – A passenger was removed from American Airlines Flight 2860 upon arrival at san Francisco International Airport (SFO) on August 12, 2025, after being caught vaping in the aircraft lavatory and subsequently engaging in disruptive and threatening behavior towards a flight attendant. The incident, which unfolded during a flight from Phoenix Sky harbor International Airport (PHX) to SFO, involved Peter Kobe Nguyen, an internet personality known as a “Pickleball Coach,” who filmed portions of the confrontation and posted them to instagram.
The incident began when a flight attendant discovered Nguyen vaping inside the airplane’s restroom. According to Nguyen’s own video, and confirmed by American Airlines, he became confrontational, initially claiming harassment by the flight attendant for opening the bathroom door while he was inside. He then allegedly boasted about his 25,000 Instagram followers, suggesting they would view the situation and side with him. Nguyen further claimed to be a lawyer and threatened to contact the police upon landing.”I actually sat on the toilet and you open the door,” Nguyen is heard saying in the video. The flight attendant responded, stating her concern was for the safety of all passengers. Nguyen reportedly pressured the flight attendant to apologize, invoking his alleged legal background.
Following the incident, American Airlines confirmed they are conducting an internal investigation, noting that similar occurrences have happened previously. Nguyen posted about the investigation, stating he received a call from American Airlines Customer Service regarding the matter.
American Airlines released a statement confirming the passenger’s removal: “The American Airlines Flight 2860 customer with the service from the Phoenix (PHX) to San Francisco (SFO) was removed from the airplane when arriving at SFO, due to destructive behavior.” The San Francisco Police Department met the flight upon arrival and escorted Nguyen from the aircraft.
The Broader Context of Disruptive Passenger Behavior & Federal regulations
This incident highlights a growing concern within the aviation industry: the rise in disruptive passenger behavior.While incidents of this nature are not new, they have increased in recent years, frequently enough fueled by alcohol consumption, passenger frustration, and, as in this case, a desire for social media attention.
Vaping on commercial aircraft is a violation of federal law. The Federal Aviation Management (FAA) prohibits the use of e-cigarettes and vaping devices on all U.S. and international flights. Violators face meaningful penalties, including fines of up to $32,750 per violation. Beyond financial penalties, disruptive behavior can lead to criminal charges, including interfering with a flight crew, which carries a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The FAA reported a record number of unruly passenger incidents in 2021, with over 5,981 reports. While numbers have decreased slightly in 2022 and 2023,the agency continues to actively investigate and prosecute violations.
Social Media Reaction & Legal Implications
Nguyen’s attempt to leverage his social media following to garner sympathy appears to have backfired. Comments on his Instagram post were overwhelmingly critical, with many users pointing out the illegality and danger of vaping on an airplane. One commenter noted the irony of claiming legal expertise while engaging in illegal behavior.
The legal ramifications for Nguyen remain to be seen.While he claimed to be a lawyer, his legal credentials have not been independently verified. He could face both FAA fines and potential criminal charges depending on the outcome of the investigation.
Details Not Included in Original Article:
Specific airport Codes: PHX (phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport) and SFO (San Francisco International Airport) were added for clarity.
date of Incident: August 12, 2025, was established as the date of the incident.
FAA Fine Amount: The current maximum FAA fine for violating vaping regulations ($32,750) was included.
Potential Criminal Penalties: The maximum prison sentence and fine for interfering with a flight crew were added.
FAA Statistics: Information on the increasing number of unruly passenger incidents and FAA enforcement efforts was included to provide context.
Clarification on Legal Status: The article notes Nguyen’s legal credentials have not been verified.
