On the two days, the Internet media reported: "On the evening of August 30, on the KN5216 flight of United Airlines from Chengdu to Beijing, there were passengers refueling and smoking during the flight, and the crew not only did not stop it in time, but also clashed with other passengers on the plane who were begging for explanations." This has raised concerns. Is this really the case? Our correspondent contacted a passenger who took the flight that day.
Reporter: When did the passengers find out that someone was smoking?
KN5216 flight passenger Lin Chaohua: First someone found it during the flight, when going to the toilet, in the toilet, when the toilet door was closed, it must have smelled, and then the flight attendant went to collect the person's fire, stopped it, that time was in the middle of the flight, and then because of the bad weather in Beijing, the diversion landed to Taiyuan Airport, where the fuel was added, because the weather was bad, it has been there (Taiyuan Airport), etc., until (early in the morning) 3 o'clock, and then someone can't stand it and say that it is breathable outside. Smoke a cigarette, several people.
Reporter: Where did they smoke it?
Passenger lin Chaohua of KN5216 flight: On the spiral ladder at the entrance of the airport, the cabin door was open, and the flight attendants were there, and those people took out the fire to smoke.
Reporter: Did the flight attendant stop it at that time?
Passenger KN5216 Lin Chaohua: No.
According to the video taken by the passengers on the plane at that time, the plane stopped at Taiyuan Airport. On the spiral ladder of the aircraft hatch, there are indeed half-cut cigarette butts. Mr. Lin said that at that time, many passengers were dissatisfied with this behavior, and even some people reported to the police. So how does the aircraft's crew handle it?
KN5216 flight passenger Lin Chaohua: Because at that time (when I was in Taiyuan), the captain and the smokers were busy going back to Beijing, saying that they had come to Beijing to give a statement, and when they arrived (in Beijing), the captain said that I could smoke if I agreed.
Reporter: Did you say it on the plane?
KN5216 flight passenger Lin Chaohua: Yes, at that time, there were passengers in Taiyuan who did not agree to go, when the police also came, the police asked several times at the hatch, the flight attendant said that he could not find anyone, after arriving in Beijing (captain) said that the plane was not arrived, was it safe, and what else to say when he arrived?
According to the relevant laws and regulations of civil aviation, smoking is strictly prohibited during the operation of civil aviation aircraft, and even the apron of the airport is a strictly non-smoking area. During the entire operation of this aircraft, there were two cases of passengers smoking, and no one stopped it. After arriving in Beijing, Mr. Lin and more than 20 passengers immediately reported the problem to the airport and asked the airline for explanations.
KN5216 flight passenger Lin Chaohua: The first question is that the first time someone smokes you stop, the second time you smoke in front of the flight attendants, you don't stop, can you smoke on the plane, and then there is the captain, we are the life of a plane person, you actually said I agree that he can smoke.
From 5 a.m. on August 31 to 2 p.m. on the same day. After more than nine hours of negotiations, the airline agreed to compensate the more than 20 passengers who asked for compensation of 1,800 yuan each. Reporter No. 1 called the customer service of China United Airlines, and the other staff said that they could not contact the captain concerned.
China United Airlines issued a statement acknowledging that passengers smoked
For the journey, which was considered "unsafe", at 00:28 a.m. yesterday, China United Airlines, which carried out the flight mission, made a briefing via the official Weibo. China United Airlines admitted that there were two times of passenger smoking during the flight, one was when a passenger smoked during the flight, and once when the aircraft was diverted to Taiyuan Airport, and the passenger smoked on the passenger train at the entrance of the cabin while waiting for take-off. At the end of the statement, China United Airlines stressed that all flights of China United Airlines are non-smoking, including electronic atomization smoke, and hope that passengers with smoking hobbies will understand and cooperate.
So, since the fact that passengers smoked was established, how did the fire source get on the plane? Since the passengers are found to be smoking, the airline has not re-checked the security check, is it in line with the civil aviation regulations? During the interview, the reporter found that during the operation of the aircraft, there were many safety issues that were ignored by the crew.
Multiple security issues are ignored
According to the passenger Mr. Lin recalled, some passengers said that cigarettes were lit with matches. Since it is impossible to find the smoking passengers, it is not known exactly how the matches were brought on the plane. In addition, when the flight stops in Taiyuan, the passengers call the police and ask for re-security checks without permission, which is even more puzzling.
KN5216 flight passenger Lin Chaohua: At that time, when we were in Taiyuan, there were passengers who did not agree to go, because the police also came, when the police were called, the police asked several times at the door of the cabin, the flight attendant said that no one could be found, the passenger said that it must be found, how can it fly without ensuring safety, and then the flight attendant said that it could not be found, the police said that otherwise they could not find only everyone to recheck again, the flight attendant said to re-check and ask the captain, the captain said not to check, and then closed the cabin door and flew.
How are matches brought on board? Why have passengers called the police but not arranged a second security check? This series of questions has not yet been answered. At present, the relevant investigation is still ongoing.
Our country has made it clear that smoking is prohibited in aircraft and airports
In fact, as early as 1992, ICAO member representatives decided that airlines must ban smoking on international flights by July 1, 1996. In 1996, China promulgated the "Regulations of the People's Republic of China on the Safety and Security of Civil Aviation", which clearly stated in Article 25 of Chapter III that smoking in non-smoking areas is prohibited in aircraft. If these provisions are violated, corresponding administrative penalties such as public security detention or fines will be imposed in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Law of the People's Republic of China on Public Security Administration Penalties.