Why smoking on a plane is betting your life with death

In March, a passenger was kicked off a plane just minutes before takeoff from Jakarta, Indonesia for smoking on the runway.The plane was being refueled at the time, a circumstance that further increased the seriousness of his crime.Under Indonesian law, this is considered an act of threatening flight safety, punishable by up to two years in prison, according toTravel Wire Asia.

How dangerous is smoking on a plane?

The ban on smoking on airplanes came into effect in 1990, on most commercial flights. It was first enacted in the United States, and has since been followed by other countries around the world.

The first factor that prompted the law was awareness campaigns about the secondhand smoke that flight attendants have to endure on flights, with the smell of cigarette smoke lingering on their uniforms and hair.

Then again, a long-haul flight of about 10 hours will burn about 36,000 gallons of fuel, a huge mass that can burn up in a flash if it catches fire, or simply a cigarette butt.

Many people may argue: "If you're not allowed to smoke on a plane, why are there ashtrays in the toilets?" The reason they exist on planes is to guard against passengers who deliberately smoke. They need a place to put the ashtray and also to dispose of the cigarette butts - it's safer than throwing the burnt cigarette in the trash and causing a fire on the plane.

What fines do Vietnamese passengers face?

Flights of Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet Air, Jetstar Pacific as well as many international airlines prohibit passengers from smoking. Flight attendants always read the announcement: “This is a non-smoking flight” before departure.

For Vietnamese airlines, the fine for smoking violations on planesis 3-5 million VND. If tourists smoke in unauthorized areas in the airport, the fine is 5-10 million VND.