NFTA: Man smoked on plane, no charges

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - Police swarmed a plane at the Buffalo Niagara Airport and removed a passenger Monday morning.

NFTA officials say it all started when a man on a Jet Blue plane went into a bathroom and smoked, committing a federal crime.

Authorities say the man is 42-year-old Joe Raposo of Fall River, Massachusetts.

The Jet Blue Pilot notified the NFTA Police while they were flying from Boston to the Buffalo Niagara Airport around 9:30 a.m. Monday.

Once Flight 1211 landed, flight attendants asked the passengers to stay seated until the police came on board. A handful of officers were waiting at the gate to take Raposo into custody.

Authorities say he was peacefully escorted off the plane.

Jet Blue passenger Erick Miranda said, “He was in there for like five minutes and we were sitting right in the front row, and after five minutes he walked out and you could easily smell the cigarette smoke.”

NFTA Police Spokesman Doug Hartmayer said, “The officer went on board and asked the individual to come with him and he did in a very orderly manner he was taken down ramp side into a police car and taken over to the NFTA aviation police office and was interrogated by police and the FBI.”

NFTA spokesman, Doug Hartmayer said police took Raposo to the NFTA Aviation Police Office where he was interrogated by the FBI and police. Authorities notified the U. S. Attorney's Office and the plane's pilot, both decided not to press charges.

NFTA officials say they taking smoking on planes very seriously because it’s a fire hazard.