[camerongood210]

With as sensitive as people are to the smell of cigarette smoke, the smell should have been immediately recognizable.

That was one of my first thoughts as well. I can't decide if this guy is just a total moron or if something fishy is going on here.

[Palladin]

Mohammed al Modadi

That’s a fishy name.

[abner]

That was one of my first thoughts as well. I can't decide if this guy is just a total moron or if something fishy is going on here.

I will be interested in what the other passengers have to say before I make a judgment either way.

I do know that burning rubber or plastic is much different than smoke from a cigarette. If it was cigarette smoke, the anti-smoking nazis on board would probably have beat the air marshals to the lavoratory!

[worst-case scenario]

He’s a total arrogant moron - a Qatari “diplomat,” probably related to some wealthy oil sheik, goes into the bathroom to grab a smoke (smoking being forbidden on domestic flights). Attendants rap on the door, asking what the smokey smell is and what he’s doing in there. This “diplomat” responds, “I’m trying to set my shoes on fire.”

He knows there are no consequences, since he’s a diplomat.

And he probably wants to get sent home anyway. There aren’t as many servants here as there are in Qatar.