Chinese airline 'failed to stop smoking on flight'; passengers threaten to sue

A Chinese budget airline endangered lives when it failed to stop passengers from smoking on a flight, according to a group of disgruntled travellers who are now threatening to sue the carrier.

Passengers on China United Airlines (CUA) flight 5216 on Saturday said they found people smoking in a toilet as the plane flew from Chengdu to Beijing. They said that when the aircraft was grounded at Taiyuan due to thunderstorms, passengers also smoked on the steps as they left the plane and again just outside the jet as it sat on the tarmac.

The passengers said that a request that all travellers undergo a further security check before re-boarding the plane due to safety concerns, was declined by the cabin crew who said it was unnecessary, according to The Beijing News.

CUA responded by saying on its official microblog that its cabin crew immediately ordered the passengers to cease smoking and confiscated their cigarettes and matches when notified by other passengers.

The airline said that it is still investigating the case and pledged to “punish its cabin crew seriously if they are found guilty of any wrongdoing”.

But the passengers insisted the airline had not done enough to ensure their safety and threatened to bring the case to court.

“We are planning to file a lawsuit against CUA, demanding it attach importance to passengers’ safety,” the group said.