A United Airlines flight from San Francisco to Cancun was delayed nearly four hours after a passenger sm0ked p0t in the aircraft’s bathroom—prompting the pilot to refuse to fly due to concerns over secondhand exposure and dr:ug testing regulations.
What Happened?
According to a viral Reddit post from a fellow passenger, flight UA1679 was initially delayed due to technical issues. The situation escalated when someone sm0ked weed in the front lavatory. The individual was removed, but the crew remained concerned about possible exposure.
“Crew was concerned they got exposed, so we deplaned and are awaiting new crew,” the passenger wrote.
The captain reportedly announced:
“I have 30 years left of my career at United. I’m not willing to risk getting dr:ug tested when I get to Houston.”
Though experts say the chance of testing positive from secondhand sm0ke in a well-ventilated aircraft is extremely low, FAA regulations and airline policies enforce zero tolerance—even for inadvertent exposure.
Aviation analyst Gary Leff explained:
“Virtually any detectable level of marijuana metabolite in urine is considered a failed test, regardless of reason. A positive result could lead to a lengthy investigation and loss of certification.”
Travelers were given $15 meal vouchers and snacks while waiting for a replacement crew. The original departure time of 8:50 a.m. was pushed to 12:30 p.m.
Public Reaction
Reddit users were quick to criticize the passenger responsible:
- “Should be an automatic lifetime ban across all airlines.”
- “I feel that person needs to be fined for every single passenger’s ticket.”
- “Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.”
Others supported the pilot’s decision: “As the captain should have! I’m not losing my job over y’all stupidity!”
While the pilot’s reaction may seem extreme, it reflects the strict standards and high stakes of aviation safety. One passenger’s reckless behavior disrupted hundreds of lives—and nearly jeopardized a career.
Source: nypost.com