Imagine you are on a plane waiting for it to take the runway so you can leave for Mexico, everything in order, as always. But suddenly, everything stops, what is happening? A technical error maybe? No! An irresponsible person (because there is no other name) decided to light a marijuana cigarette in the bathroom and the pilot refused to fly like that. Just like that, direct. This happened on a United Airlines flight (UA1679), and what started as an isolated incident ended up leaving dozens of people stranded at the airport for hours.
The moment everything went wrong
The flight was leaving from San Francisco bound for Mexico. Everything normal… until one of the passengers thought it was normal to go into a bathroom to light up a joint. And the thing is, not only is smoking on planes prohibited (we all know that), but also, in the United States, lighting marijuana on a commercial flight is a federal violation!!!!
He was taken off the plane immediately, but the worst came after. The crew complained about having been exposed to the smoke, and the captain made a decision that surprised many: he did not intend to take off.
“I’m not going to risk my career for this”
The pilot explained that he did not intend to risk his career or anyone’s integrity because a reckless person thought it was a good idea to light marijuana in a bathroom. And he had reasons, of course, marijuana is a narcotic. Although it is unlikely that a drug test would be positive from passive smoke, the risk exists and no one has to put their job at risk for that. And the controls in the sector are random. If he got one upon landing, he could get into trouble.
United was forced to find a new crew and the passengers received the usual: a $15 voucher and some food from the cart to calm things down. Some were upset, others understood.
Not an isolated case
As surreal as it sounds, these situations are not as rare as they seem. Just in 2025 so far, the FAA has already received more than 1,000 reports of unruly passengers. They are not the almost 6,000 from 2021, but it is still a worrying number.
The major airlines (Delta, American, Southwest, United…) are overwhelmed with incidents involving people who drink too much, get aggressive or simply break the basic rules of coexistence on board. And every time something like this happens, delays, cancellations and, above all, risks to everyone’s safety are generated.
Can a pilot stand firm and refuse to fly?
Yes, and completely within the law. If the pilot considers there is a risk, he has the right not to take off. In this case it was not a technical failure, but it was a situation that could have serious consequences for him. A positive test, even if by accidental exposure, could cost him his job. And keep in mind that a United pilot can earn more than $300,000 a year, no one would risk their job like that.
Something similar happened recently: another pilot requested the plane be evacuated after detecting a mechanical failure. And the passengers, far from being upset, applauded him for putting safety first.
In the end, a lesson in responsibility
This episode of flight UA1679 serves to remind us of something very simple: on a plane you are not alone. The nonsense of one person can ruin everyone’s trip. And the most serious: they can jeopardize the career of professionals who risk a lot every time they take off.
The captain did what he thought was right, and although the passengers paid the price with hours of waiting, the story makes it clear that difficult decisions are sometimes the most responsible.