Last month a Vistara flight was forced to turn back after a passenger insisted on smoking aboard, causing a three-hour delay.
According to the New Indian Express, the aircraft was preparing to depart Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi for Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata when the incident took place.
Airline staff say a male passenger began smoking as the plane pulled away from the gate. Cabin crew immediately instructed him to stop, since smoking on domestic flights in India is prohibited.
The passenger refused to comply and became disruptive. The captain decided to return the aircraft to the gate, and the individual was removed for violating air safety regulations. The resulting disruption delayed the flight for about three hours.
A Vistara spokesperson told the New Indian Express, “We had an unruly passenger who insisted on smoking on board. He was issued a warning letter by the captain and later offloaded when he denied to comply with air safety rules. Vistara regrets the delay.”
Incidents of onboard smoking are treated seriously because they violate safety rules and can endanger other passengers. Airlines follow strict protocols: cabin crew will first attempt to resolve the issue in flight, and if a passenger remains noncompliant the captain may return to the gate and involve ground authorities. Such measures are aimed at protecting safety and ensuring compliance with aviation regulations.