Smoke(rs) in cabin on EK412 SYD-AKL - 20 April 09
 

Hi,

Well apart from running 3 hours late today's EK412 had some mid air excitement when about 45 min out of AKL the captain made a PA that smoke had been detected in one of the bathrooms and if someone was smoking that they should stop. In the background of the PA you could hear an alarm in the cockpit sounding. This was met at the same time with about 10 crew rushing the front right door bathroom. About 2 minutes later another PA was made that smoke was still being detected in a bathroom and that the captain would have to declare an emergency unless the alarm stopped. This resulted in a few more crew appearing to the bathroom and shortly after two young ladies emerged from the bathroom being escorted back to their seats.

They claim that they saw the ashtrays in the back of the toilet door and therefore decided that it was OK to smoke in the bathroom.

My first bit of unwanted excitement in 9 years of frequent flying and one I hope I don't experience again. Perhaps EK should add in announcements that smoking in the aircraft toilets is a fire hazard like QF and others do?

Please refrain from quoting the whole previous post in your post, it is not necessary, thank you - mod

I find it odd that ash trays are still to be found in toilets and elsewhere on new a/c. I flew on a Qantas A380 the other week and was surpsied to see on on the outside of the toilet.

Please refrain from quoting the whole previous post in your post, it is not necessary, thank you - mod

Ashtrays are still a requirement so that idiots who choose to smoke have somewhere safe to put their butts. Cigarette butts in bins, on floors and even down toilets could be dangerous.

good of the captain to publicly shame the offender. Well deserved!

From memory someone asked about ashtrays in new aircraft a while back and from memory they are still fitted as in order to have them removed they have to submit new aircraft designs for approval. If someone else has a better recollection feel free to correct me.

NickN, I would think that is certainly a large part of the reason.

Even now there are strict time limits for operating without an ashtray... It must be replaced within 10 days.

Far easier to just fly with them installed than try and get Boeing to do a recertification without it, adjust the MMEL, and then the individual company MEL.

I'd actually be all in favour of tobacco products to be banned in the cabin.
They can be packed in checked baggage, sure, and if someone wants to buy tax and duty free products more and more airports offer this on arrival now.

A bit of a controversial opinion, maybe, but there it is.
Feel free to rip it to pieces, though, that's what a discussion is for.

Erik in essence it sounds fine, all I can think of against the idea would be that it may affect the retailers at the airport of departure in some way. Thats all I could think of.

That's a good point, but one that I'm sure could be overcome.

Instead of banning tobacco products, how about banning ignition sources! Lighters, matches, the like. That would be just as effective, and stop people from trying to set fire to other things too!

Isnt lighters and matches already banned from taking on board a aircraft..

Nope!

These items (such as normal safety matches) are allowed to be carried on your person.

With all the post 9/11 security measures I am surprised lighters, matches etc weren't prohibited. I don't see why a ban on those things can't be assessed as they are not required onboard for any reason.

OK I'm curious, how would you propose that they effectively police something like that?

Nigel I have no idea what technology is available, if any, to police a ban like that but perhaps in the future there may be a way.

I think the original reason they were allowed on board after smoking was prohibited was due to the fact they are unsafe to carry in hold luggage. It was safer to have them on your person where they can't accidently start a fire in the hold.

That was as a dangerous goods perspective.

Since the shoe bombing attempt numerous years ago, I'm surprised that they haven't placed a ban on carrying them. It would just mean that it is impossible to carry lighters/matches to where you are going, which I'm sure would upset those who need a cigarette immediately before and after a flight, but accomodations for those people can be made in airport smoking lounges.

As to if it is possible to police - It is no more difficult to police than the ban on liquids. The new scanning technology that is on its way shows an alarming amount of detail, almost down to being able to tell your religion :D and I'm sure matches would show up ;)

As if my toga and sandles (aka flip flops or jandles for the Kiwi audience) didn't give it away!!!!