Passengers left stranded for 17 hours after flight diverted due to unbelievably selfish act: ‘Everybody was fed up’

NY Post ^ | July 11, 2025 | Ben Cost

[xxqqzz]

Apparently, they refused to stop smoking. Used to be smoking was allowed and messed up the air. Part of the reason it was banned was it occasionally caused fires that caused the plane to crash or killed the passengers from the fumes.

[nonliberal]

One of these days, one of these passengers is going to snap on idiots like this and beat the living hell out of them.

[DIRTYSECRET]

What do you want them to do go outside?

[RainMan]

Yeah ... no. I am old enough to remember smoking on planes, I used to do it. There was never a single incident (at least that made the news, and believe me it would have been all over the news) where a crash was attributed ... much less proven ... to be caused by someone smoking on board. Smoking was restricted to a part of the plane (usually back), and the air circ system kept it so those in the non-smoking section really were not bothered by it.

[stanne]

They push pot smoking but this is like a felony for which landing a plane off course is necessary

People smoked on airplanes. We sat in the smoking section and later on as young adults we sat in smoking because people were more fun in the smoking section

Meanwhile I have to advise a certain young adult how to keep the smoke out of the apartment they’re paying thousands for to get advanced degrees Where’s the authorities there?

[bgill]

Outside would be a good idea. Sick and tired of the ME! crowd thinking rules don’t apply to them. IF they were drunk, why were they let on board and did they get served more alcohol while in flight?

[cgbg]

These days half the passengers were probably terrified that second hand smoke would kill them on contact.

Common sense is gone.

[Bernard]

So basically there was a bunch of illegal aliens dumped into Bangor, Maine. What did ATC allow that plane to land in the US instead of telling it to go back to Mexico?

[ealgeone]

I had just started my professional career when smoking on board was still allowed. You could smell it. It was a stale smell.

So glad it got banned.

[C210N]

Airplane? Bangor, Maine?

Sounds like someone should weave this into a book or movie!!

[Leaning Right]

> One of these days, one of these passengers is going to snap on idiots like this and beat the living hell out of them. <

I’d be happy enough if each of these smokers got a well-publicized year or so in prison. But I doubt very much if that will happen.

More likely it will be probation, plus a ban from flying on that particular airline.

[PAR35]

The 717 was the last plane (and the first in a long time) that used fresh air instead of re-circulated air in the cabin.

I’m old enough to remember when coach passengers got meals served on real plates, with metal utensils and a four pack of cigarettes for an after meal smoke. But cigarettes (and especially cigars) stink. And I’m glad that’s one indignity no longer imposed on air travelers.

[hecticskeptic]

Yeah ... no. I am old enough to remember smoking on planes, I used to do it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I recall being on a plane as a teenager with a friend when he mentioned to the ‘stewardess’ that it would be nice to have some cigarettes... and she promptly gave us some of hers.

[ViLaLuz]

. “They were obviously drunk, and he basically assaulted his partner,”
..................................

Two men?

[Chickensoup]

Nonsense. We all smoked on planes.

[Chickensoup]

Bangor is a well known international refueling stop. Remember many flights go near or over the icecap

[rlmorel]

That was what I was wondering. The world revolves around them.

[Cowgirl of Justice]

Every single recurrent when I was a flight attendant, we went over this incident to understand exactly how dangerous it is for pax to smoke in the lavatories.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_Canada_Flight_797

[ProtectOurFreedom]

You wrote “Smoking was restricted to a part of the plane (usually back), and the air circ system kept it so those in the non-smoking section really were not bothered by it.”

You must be a youngster. I’m so old I remember when could smoke anywhere in the plane.

I also know that the introduction of the no smoking section was a joke. The whole plane still reeked of smoke. The airlines made no changes to the air system to contain the smoke to one section. Asking for the no smoking section was like asking for the no-chlorine end of the swimming pool.

I absolutely dreaded flying because of the smoke.

[JPG]

A Varig 707 and an Air Canada DC-9 both killed a lot of people from fires started by smokers in the bathroom.