(Image source: CheapoAir.com)
BY KYLIE MCGIVERN AND TRACY PFEIFFER
ANCHOR CHRISTINA HARTMAN
You're watching multisource US video news analysis from Newsy.
“Assault with an edible weapon.”
That’s what The Economist is calling a “nutty” case out of Utah. KABC explains...
“A passenger on a flight from LAX was arrested, accused of throwing peanuts and pretzels at a flight attendant. Authorities say Pogos Paul Sefilian was on a Southwest flight from LA to Salt Lake City Monday night when he tried to smoke an electronic cigarette. According to a complaint filed in federal court, the flight attendant repeatedly asked him to put away the device, saying it was against airline policy.”
And Sefilian reportedly didn’t stop at peanut throwing. CNN looked at the court papers and has more.
“As the plane approached Salt Lake City, Sefilian stood and began opening the overhead compartments... Flight attendants asked him several times to close the bins and sit down, but he refused and ‘postured his chest out’ at the crew.”
The Economist says, maybe Sefilian really did have a point.
“Mr Sefilian's behaviour was clearly nutty, though he may have thought he was within his rights to light up, or whatever it is one does with these high-tech pieces of plastic.”
An electronic cigarette, or e-cigarette, simulates smoking by producing a vapor rather than tobacco smoke.
But MSNBC reports -- even though there’s no smoke, there’s also no cigar on this issue.
“Cigarette smoking on commercial aircraft is banned by the Department of Transportation (DOT) and the agency considers e-cigarettes to [be] part of that ban.”
Finally, a writer for The Stir wonders about a different element of the story--the snack-throwing part.
“I think the first thing that pops into everybody's mind is: Southwest serves peanuts and pretzels?! But the second one is: Jail?... Throwing him in jail for doing something I've seen countless 4-year-olds doing on flights seems a bit on the harsh side.”
KABC reports Sefilian faces a federal charge of interference with a flight crew and has had his flight privileges restricted. If convicted, he could spend up to 20 years in prison.
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Transcript by Newsy.
