Flight attendant discovers passenger smoking in lavatory.

Attributes
ACN	572004
Time
Date	200301
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : zau.artcc
State Reference	IL
Environment
Weather Elements	Turbulence
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zau.artcc tower : lga.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-80 Super 80
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight attendant : on duty oversight : flight attendant in charge
Qualification	flight attendant : currently qualified flight attendant aircraft qualified on : 7
Experience	flight attendant time airline total : 13 flight attendant time total : 13
ASRS Report	572001
Person 2
Affiliation	other
Function	observation : passenger
Events
Anomaly	cabin event other non adherence : far other anomaly
Independent Detector	other other : person 1
Resolutory Action	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Passenger Human Performance
Primary Problem	Passenger Human Performance

Narrative:

A passenger went into the first class lavatory and smoked a cigarette. I was picking up in the main cabin, and when I entered the first class cabin I could smell it. Also, there was a flight attendant deadheading and she as well as other passenger smelled it too. I knocked on the door and asked him to come out because I smelled smoke. I had to ask him about 4 times before he would open the door. He admitted to it finally and when I asked him where he put the butt, he said he flushed it. He then went to his seat and I got all the information needed. However, I wish someone would have met the flight because the passenger was continuing on. I just felt that he had done this many times and keeps getting away with it. He mentioned that he had a relative who works for the FAA. I told him he should have known better.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLT ATTENDANT DISCOVERS PAX SMOKING IN LAVATORY.

Narrative: A PAX WENT INTO THE FIRST CLASS LAVATORY AND SMOKED A CIGARETTE. I WAS PICKING UP IN THE MAIN CABIN, AND WHEN I ENTERED THE FIRST CLASS CABIN I COULD SMELL IT. ALSO, THERE WAS A FLT ATTENDANT DEADHEADING AND SHE AS WELL AS OTHER PAX SMELLED IT TOO. I KNOCKED ON THE DOOR AND ASKED HIM TO COME OUT BECAUSE I SMELLED SMOKE. I HAD TO ASK HIM ABOUT 4 TIMES BEFORE HE WOULD OPEN THE DOOR. HE ADMITTED TO IT FINALLY AND WHEN I ASKED HIM WHERE HE PUT THE BUTT, HE SAID HE FLUSHED IT. HE THEN WENT TO HIS SEAT AND I GOT ALL THE INFO NEEDED. HOWEVER, I WISH SOMEONE WOULD HAVE MET THE FLT BECAUSE THE PAX WAS CONTINUING ON. I JUST FELT THAT HE HAD DONE THIS MANY TIMES AND KEEPS GETTING AWAY WITH IT. HE MENTIONED THAT HE HAD A RELATIVE WHO WORKS FOR THE FAA. I TOLD HIM HE SHOULD HAVE KNOWN BETTER.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.