re: #76 freetoken

The story implies that he simply won’t be charged because officials do not suspect him of trying to hurt anyone:

Of course smoking on a plane is itself a crime… but I doubt they will charge him for that.

No Charges for Qatar Diplomat After Mid-Air Bomb Scare

The Qatari diplomat who caused a mid-air security scare won’t face charges after claiming he was trying to light his shoes on fire when it appears he was simply smoking in the bathroom.

Federal officials said Mohammed al Modadi was on official business when he boarded United Airlines Flight 663 from Washington to Denver, giving him diplomatic immunity. A law firm spokesman told The Associated Press that al Modadi has been released and was headed back to Washington.

More than 160 passengers and crew were on board when flight attendants noticed smoke coming from the bathroom and notified federal air marshals on the plane, government sources said.

When the marshals demanded to know what he was doing, the man identified himself as a diplomat from Qatar and responded, perhaps sarcastically, “I’m trying to light my shoes on fire.”