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An American Airlines passenger sparked outrage after being caught vaping mid-flight and accusing a flight attendant of assault.
The viral video drew backlash as users slammed his behaviour. (Photo Credits: Instagram)
An American Airlines flight took a tense turn when a passenger, Peter Nguyen, had an emotional outburst after being confronted for allegedly vaping in the flight’s lavatory. Nguyen later shared videos of the incident on Instagram, showing a heated exchange with a flight attendant who, according to him, opened the washroom door while he was still inside.
The situation began when Nguyen was reportedly caught vaping in the restroom by the crew. In the video, Nguyen is seen accusing the flight attendant of “assault” and claiming she “laid hands” on him when she reached for his phone. Responding to comments online, Nguyen appeared to admit to vaping, writing, “Nicotine withdrawal is real.”
Passenger vs. Flight Attendant
Peter Nguyen, who identifies as a celebrity pickleball coach, filmed the moment he was confronted during the flight. In the clip, he tells the flight attendant, “I was actually sitting on the toilet and you were opening the door.” She replies, “I don’t care. You can keep saying you’re sorry but I care about all these passengers.”
The video then shows the flight attendant reaching towards Nguyen’s phone, and the clip cuts off. A second video captures Nguyen accusing her of physical contact and calling it an assault. The situation continued to escalate as more crew members got involved.
According to a report from the Daily Mail, the incident happened on August 4 during a flight from Phoenix to San Francisco. When another flight attendant confronted him about smoking, Nguyen insisted that the first attendant had touched him. He replied, “Yes, but she put her hands on me. I have a lawyer. I am a lawyer.”
Watch The Video
How Social Media Users Reacted
Nguyen continued to argue with the flight attendants, warning them not to touch him again and demanding an apology. He also threatened to release the video publicly and stated he would contact the police upon landing. However, it remains unclear whether he followed through on these claims or if American Airlines has taken any action in response to the incident.
Meanwhile, social media users widely criticised Nguyen’s behaviour. On both Instagram and Reddit, many accused him of overreacting and shifting blame. A person commented, “So… you were breaking the law & instead of taking accountability you just berated a woman doing her job?” Nguyen responded, “She committed battery.”
Another user told him, “You’re completely in the wrong.” Nguyen later gave different reasons for his actions, saying the attendant kept locking and unlocking the door and that he was in “emotional distress” and confused.
The Passenger ‘Changes’ His Story
As more people questioned him, Nguyen added that he is autistic and struggling with nicotine withdrawal. While some tried to understand his side, the majority of comments condemned his behaviour as unacceptable and disruptive.
The situation highlights the growing concern around in-flight passenger behaviour and how social media is being used to share and debate such incidents in real time. Though no formal update has come from American Airlines, the video has sparked strong opinions and online backlash.
Despite claiming to be a lawyer and threatening legal action, many viewers felt Nguyen was simply trying to deflect responsibility for breaking airline rules.
A team of writers at News18.com bring you stories on what’s creating the buzz on the Internet while exploring science, cricket, tech, gender, Bollywood, and culture.
A team of writers at News18.com bring you stories on what’s creating the buzz on the Internet while exploring science, cricket, tech, gender, Bollywood, and culture.
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