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A man caught vaping on an American Airlines flight and consequently threatening an attendant has resurfaced to blame nicotine for his behavior.
Peter Nguyen was seated in the restroom when the hostess opened the door and read him the riot act for puffing away at his e-cigarette. While initially apologetic, he started filming the interaction.
Highlights
- Peter Nguyen was caught vaping in an airplane restroom on a Phoenix–San Francisco flight.
- Confrontations with flight attendants escalated to threats and accusations of assault.
- The passenger who threatened to post the video to 25,000 followers later apologized publicly.
At some point during the confrontation, he alleged that the airline staffer had reached for his phone, and from there onward it devolved into claims of assault and threats of legal action.
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The hostess managed to override the lock on the restroom door
Image credits: kobe.pickleball
Speaking to Fox’s KTVU in California on August 8, the man responded to the question: “Do you wish you never even vaped in the bathroom on that plane?” with “I wish I never picked up a vape to begin with.”
According to Nguyen, the aircraft had been airborne for 35 minutes when his nicotine dependency got the better of him.
Image credits: Sachin Amjhad/Unsplash
He made his way to the bathroom stall, locked himself in, and then indulged in what he claims was only one drag.
To his surprise, the door opened from the outside even though he had locked himself in.
Peter Nguyen first apologized to the air hostess, then accused her of assaulting him
Nguyen told the attendant that he was merely using the loo—a subterfuge that turned out to be futile as she appeared to have no doubt about what he had been doing.
View this post on Instagram
When he realized that lying was futile, he apologized. The attendant, however, would not let it slip that easily and countered: “You can keep saying you’re sorry, but I care about all these passengers.”
Bored Panda reported on August 8 that the interaction escalated and the flight attendant allegedly reached for his phone.
The passenger tried to turn the issue against the hostess and claimed that it was he who deserved an apology
Image credits: kobe.pickleball
Nguyen pivoted from apologetic to threatening while filming the interaction, claiming the staffer had laid hands on him.
“Yes, but she put her hands on me. I have a lawyer. I am a lawyer,” he could be heard saying to another staffer who joined the fray. But like her colleague, she scolded him for smoking in the bathroom.
“I have 25,000 followers. I have 25,000 followers that are going to watch this,” Nguyen threatened before declaring it was he who deserved an apology.
Image credits: kobe.pickleball
“So, do you want me to release this or do you want to say sorry to me right now?” he asked the first hostess.
He threatened to phone the police when the plane landed
Nguyen’s tirade continued: “I am actually gonna call the police when I get back on the ground. On you! You reached over me. You tried to grab my phone. You assaulted me,” he told the hostess who caught him vaping.
Image credits: kobe.pickeball
The commercial carrier has since indicated that it was Nguyen who was met by authorities when Flight 2860 landed in San Francisco.
In a statement seen by People, it noted:
“A customer on American Airlines flight 2860 with service from Phoenix (PHX) to San Francisco (SFO) was removed from the aircraft upon arrival at SFO due to disruptive behavior.”
NEW: ‘Celebrity pickleball coach’ has a meltdown after a flight attendant caught him smoking in the bathroom, demands an apology while threatening to post the video to his “25,000 followers.”
Wow this guy sucks.
Peter Nguyen was seen accosting a female flight attendant,… pic.twitter.com/je1gnshjfZ
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) August 6, 2025
“We thank our customers for their patience and apologize for any inconvenience.”
The vape-smoking flier has since changed his tune and apologized profusely
“It sucks knowing in order to be myself, I have to have nicotine,” he lamented pitifully. “I feel so helpless,” Nguyen told KTVU in the recent interview.
“The more you do it, like, the less effective it is. It’s like your body builds a tolerance to it.”
Image credits: Giulia Squillace/Unsplash
Image credits: kobe.pickleball
It is unknown what transpired at the hands of American Airlines security and the San Francisco police, but his stance on the incident has changed.
“From the bottom of my heart, I’m sorry to the other passengers. There is no excuse. No excuse for what happened,” KTVU reported him saying.
Social media is marveling at how fast he “turned the whole thing into him being the victim”
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What do you think ?
Marnie 3 months ago
Nicotine is more addictive than h****n. As such, if you partake, USE A F*****G NICOTINE PATCH WHEN TRAVELLING! Why is that so hard?
Annabelle 3 months ago
As a former smoker, who used to fly a lot for work, it's not. I wouldn't have smoked in a plane if I'd been alive when it was allowed anyway, but this punk is just an entitled punk. A punk CEO, a punk non-profit founder, a punk Hollywood producer, a punk lawyer (maybe).🤢
Load More Replies...
CD King 3 months ago
This guy is a complete f&ckwit. He is trying to either harass the flight attendant for views or is so stupid to vape on a plane and think he can just say sorry. I’m guessing the former rather than the later. He should not get press for this kind of behaviour and he should be down voted and people should unfollow him. What a pr+ck.
Tyranamar Seuss 3 months ago
I think of him more as a jacka$$. I hope he got charged and lost subscribers. He clearly thought rules don't apply to him.
Load More Replies...
Upstaged75 3 months ago
Trying to make himself the victim just makes him seem like an even bigger @sshole. Any consequences are of his own doing. He was breaking the law!
The Doom Song 3 months ago
Isn't it a federal offence to smoke or vale on an aeroplane in America??? It is here in Australia....
Upstaged75 3 months ago
Yes it is. They tell you so in the pre-flight announcements. He just thought the rules didn't apply to him.
Load More Replies...
Paul Gerrard 3 months ago (edited)
He heard the announcement prior to departure. Crew have every right to ask for his vape and phone and confine him to a seat for police to address his behaviour. His is a risk to the aircraft and passengers by not following a lawful instructions licensed crew. He looks as much of a lawyer as my butt hole
Shortstuff 3 months ago
What an entitled brat. The guilty always blame someone else when they get caught. Karma.
Roberta Surprenant 3 months ago
I don't do nicotine, but know from experience that tsa ignores vape pens. Admittedly, I leave them in sealed package while traveling.
Paul Gerrard 3 months ago
They contain li ion batteries and need to be in the aircraft or a pocket. The issue is their use is banned
Load More Replies...
Marnie 3 months ago
Nicotine is more addictive than h****n. As such, if you partake, USE A F*****G NICOTINE PATCH WHEN TRAVELLING! Why is that so hard?
Annabelle 3 months ago
As a former smoker, who used to fly a lot for work, it's not. I wouldn't have smoked in a plane if I'd been alive when it was allowed anyway, but this punk is just an entitled punk. A punk CEO, a punk non-profit founder, a punk Hollywood producer, a punk lawyer (maybe).🤢
Load More Replies... CD King 3 months ago
This guy is a complete f&ckwit. He is trying to either harass the flight attendant for views or is so stupid to vape on a plane and think he can just say sorry. I’m guessing the former rather than the later. He should not get press for this kind of behaviour and he should be down voted and people should unfollow him. What a pr+ck.
Tyranamar Seuss 3 months ago
I think of him more as a jacka$$. I hope he got charged and lost subscribers. He clearly thought rules don't apply to him.
Load More Replies... Upstaged75 3 months ago
Trying to make himself the victim just makes him seem like an even bigger @sshole. Any consequences are of his own doing. He was breaking the law!
The Doom Song 3 months ago
Isn't it a federal offence to smoke or vale on an aeroplane in America??? It is here in Australia....
Upstaged75 3 months ago
Yes it is. They tell you so in the pre-flight announcements. He just thought the rules didn't apply to him.
Load More Replies... Paul Gerrard 3 months ago (edited)
He heard the announcement prior to departure. Crew have every right to ask for his vape and phone and confine him to a seat for police to address his behaviour. His is a risk to the aircraft and passengers by not following a lawful instructions licensed crew. He looks as much of a lawyer as my butt hole
Shortstuff 3 months ago
What an entitled brat. The guilty always blame someone else when they get caught. Karma.
Roberta Surprenant 3 months ago
I don't do nicotine, but know from experience that tsa ignores vape pens. Admittedly, I leave them in sealed package while traveling.
Paul Gerrard 3 months ago
They contain li ion batteries and need to be in the aircraft or a pocket. The issue is their use is banned
Load More Replies... 
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