An American Airlines passenger was caught vaping in the lavatory, and then proceeded to have a meltdown, attempting to flip the script, accusing the flight attendant of assault. What I find so strange about this interaction is that the poorly behaved passenger is the one circulating this video online, and is presenting himself as the victim.
In this post:
Obnoxious American passenger caught vaping in lavatory
This incident happened on Monday, August 4, 2025, on flight AA2860 from Phoenix (PHX) to San Francisco (SFO). It involves Peter “Kobe” Nguyen, a self-proclaimed celebrity pickleball coach, agent, and AI expert. Everything we know about this incident is from the video footage that Nguyen posted online.
He was in the rear lavatory of the American Airbus A321, when the flight attendant reportedly forcibly opened the door, because Nguyen was vaping. Vaping onboard a plane is of course a violation of Federal Aviation Regulations.
Nguyen claims he “only took one puff.” First of all, it doesn’t matter how many puffs you take. Second of all, I have a hard time believing it was truly only one puff, especially given the dishonest claims he otherwise makes in the video.
Anyway, Nguyen filmed the entire interaction following the flight attendant opening the door. Shortly after the flight attendant opens the lavatory door, she notices he’s recording, and tries (unsuccessfully) to grab his phone, though there’s no evidence of the flight attendant having touched him. This is the point at which Nguyen loses it:
- “She just put her hands on me”
- “I have a lawyer… I am a lawyer, I am a lawyer!”
- “You do not put your hands on me, you do not put your hands on me, you do not put your hands on me!”
- “I have 25,000 followers, I have 25,000 followers that are going to watch this!”
- “I have it on video, so do you want me to release this, or do you want to say sorry to me right now?”
- “You do not get to touch a passenger, I was in the restroom, and you were opening the door!”
- “I’m actually going to call the police when I get back on the ground, on you!”
- “You assaulted me, she assaulted me, this flight attendant assaulted me, everybody!”
- “You are in so much trouble, you are in so much trouble, you know that? You’re in a lot of trouble…”
American released the following statement in response to this incident:
“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. We thank our customers for their patience and apologize for any inconvenience.”
This passenger is ridiculous, totally out of line
Admittedly the flight attendant wasn’t acting her best. While recording employees violates American’s company policy, it’s not illegal, and she shouldn’t have reached for his phone. American should of course remind her that this isn’t an appropriate response to a situation like this. However, there’s not any proof based on the video that backs up his claim about the flight attendant touching him.
Beyond that, though, my goodness, this guy is just awful. For one, he lies about being a lawyer, and talks up how he has 25,000 followers. What a flex. It’s clear what’s going on, though — he knows he’s in trouble, so he’s trying to find any possible way to deflect and shift the topic of conversation to something else.
So when the flight attendants tries to grab his phone, he views that as the perfect opportunity to change the topic, threatening to call the police on her, and claiming she’s in so much trouble.
Bottom line
An American Airlines passenger was caught vaping in the lavatory. When the flight attendant confronted him about it, she noticed he was recording, and tried to grab his phone. This triggered quite the response, where the man accused her of assault, claimed he was a lawyer, explained he had 25,000 followers, and told her how much trouble she’s in, and that he’s going to call the cops.
Maybe this guy is in the “any publicity is good publicity” camp, but how pathetic that he’s sharing the video and presenting himself as the victim in all of this.
What do you make of this inflight vaping incident?
I’m so glad I was able to give up nicotine a while back. But I will tell you this, that damn vape addiction was the cause of some stupid actions like vaping where I shouldn’t. Hard to explain it but rationality went out the window at times…And I’m definitely not proud of that.
Again, I’m glad to have broken that habit and don’t miss it one bit.
Shocked the FAs actually cared. Just the other week, a woman diagonal from me in AA F was vaping the entire flight….from her seat!
She thought she was being sly, but it was easy to see the vape wrapped in her hand/smoke billowing from inside her shirt when she exhaled down it. Plus the cabin smelled like a cotton candy carnival stand. FAs were either dumb or simply didn’t care
Wow, that is wild.
See something, say something.
You never put on the FA hat and just complain.
It's easier for them to react on your complain than being proactive on their own.
Many FA actually cares but because of idiots on social media, they don't want to be proactive and end up on TikTok.
Some FA loves to flex their unchecked powers. TikTok makes sure they don't go diverting planes on a power trip.
It works both ways.
Old me would have said something to the FAs. But having lived in Miami for 15+ years, “see-say” has somehow only ever gotten ME in “trouble”, and not the person breaking the law.
I just stay quiet now in situations like this. It’s not worth being gaslighted into thinking I’m somehow the problem for reporting illegal behavior. Even my condo association cursed me out for reporting lit cigarettes in the stairwell next to my unit.
2025 get a nicotine pouch. They are spit-less, ultra thin and would work if you need nicotine that bad. Guys in the wrong for vaping on a plane. He Fed around and he found out.
wait! I want to interview the idiots who hired him to coach them in pickleball.
Birds of a feather perhaps Frank? …. The coach and his clients, “Idiots”, not including you old bean …. :-)
Birds of a feather perhaps Frank? …. The coach and his clients, “Idiots”, not including you old bean …. :-)
ban him. negate his frequent flier miles. establish a shared list of offenders so that other airlines can have access to who are the trouble makers if this is indeed a violation of FAA law let the feds prosecute
can we just have a calm peaceful flight
Should have been arrested on arrival. Make a point out of an obnoxious idiot like him. Nothing of any value would have been lost, except maybe the pig remnants which went into his boloney sandwich in jail.
Where’s the outrage over his terrible 2-tone bleach hairdo? Crybaby wannabe. Loser from (literally) head-to-vape sucking-toe!
I would just ban anyone with more than 100 followers on TikTok from all airlines and everything would suddenly be so much nicer :)
Censorship is the way to go?
The problem isn't the content creator making trash.
Its the idiots who lack critical thinking consuming trash and believe everything you see.
Why not just lock you up and throw away the keys? "and everything would suddenly be so much nicer :)"
They should "suspend" the FA... with PAY for a few days. :)
They should ban the passenger "permanently". Maybe the ban is removed after a few years if the passenger makes a complete confession, admits his guilt and apologizes to the FA and the airline.
Wow...I am SO impressed that he's a celebrity pickleball coach with 25,000 followers...NOT! Illegal is illegal...plain and simple. Maybe the flight attendant was a bit aggressive but the passenger is the one who will be banned (hopefully). American can't say anything to the flight attendant because of the union but ask the union to suggest that she "tone it down" a bit. That won't happen but just suggesting!
Don't underestimated followers. 15k is the new billion.
If a self important crying snowflake can get some chef fired for deeming 15k followers is inadequate, anyone can get canceled for anything.
Welcome to the 21st century witch hunt.
Facts don't matter if it hurts your feelings.
There is no one angrier than a man who has done exactly what he is accused of doing.
Best and most accurate observation of the day.
I always wonder what people think in these kinds of situations. Getting aggressive is going to keep you on the plane? When you're in a hole, stop digging.
All pickleballers are obnoxious dbags. Source: I'm a tennis player. Please let this fad die off quickly.
Hahaha good one!
Former tennis coach here
Could be worse... could be an over entitled tennis player. They are all 'look at me' wanna be super d-bags. Love all the tennis courts being converted to pickleball courts.
No need to pray for tennis to fade away... it is!!
Pickleball is tennis for lazy people.
But on a permanent No Fly List. He can take Greyhound to his "pickle ball" matches. What a loser.
Wow, how freaking embarrassing for the FA's. She even said sorry.
This is why we need to get back to punching people in the face for disrespect. The captain should have put the plane on autopilot, beat the living crap out of this kid and then lock him in the bathroom. Vapes are destroying the world because people can't even go 2 hours without getting their hit.
All passengers should "beat the living crap" out of TSA, gate agents, or at DMV?
You are part of the problem.
You're just a bully with a bigger muscle using another bully as an excuse to flex your muscles.
See how violence solve problems in Middle East, Eastern Europe or Africa?
"a self-proclaimed celebrity pickleball coach, agent, and AI expert"
If you look up "insufferable douchebag" in the thesaurus, you'll find all 3 of these items.
And his picture!
Definitely grabbing a phone wasn't a smart move here, but it kinda help expose this guy. The bad thing is that this will probably bring him more followers. Hopefully he also gets put on some no-fly list.
I wonder...
Where would one learn to deny, deny, deny and the aggressively attack the ones who accused them of wrongdoing? To bald-face lie when confronted by truth and fact?
How could one think that behavior would warrenty success?
What role model?
Hmmm...
The ignorance of some passengers is beyond comprehension. One trusts that AA will ban the beggar from their aircraft …. period!
One now awaits the defenders of the indefensible to attempt a justified excuse for such crass ingnorance.
Before the pedant peasants start …. Yes, I have noticed that Mr Apple auto-insert has misspelled ignorance …. however, I did fail to stop publication as soon as I noticed after I pressed send.
Smoking and vaping is not allowed. Why he didn't simply comply, I don't know. Why people can't simply follow the rules boggles the mind. And as I've said time and time again, if you're not going to worry about something in 5 years, it's best to not worry about it at all.
"Why he didn't simply comply, I don't know."
Why are you going 1 mph over the speed limit?
Why don't you do a complete 3 second stop at a stop sign?
Jaywalking, littering?
The best for last, did you ever pay use tax on every item taxable?
"Why people can't simply follow the rules boggles the mind."
#hypocrites
So, by your logic if I drive 1 mph over the speed limit I’m a hypocrite if I think someone should be arrested for murder?
#StopGaslighting