Flight Crew Total 7523; Flight Crew Type 4271
Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Passenger Misconduct; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Smoke / Fire / Fumes / Odor
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport
Human Factors
Just after level off from departure (FL330) a flight attendant called. I answered the call. The flight attendant sounded excited and told me that there was smoke/fumes coming from one of the aft lav trash bins. She wanted to talk to the Captain so I transferred the issue to the Captain. After the initial conversation with the flight attendant the Captain told me to contact ATC to immediately return and that I have control of the airplane. We were given priority direct and descend. The Captain also directed that we execute the smoke and fumes checklist while he continued the conversation with the flight attendant. We accomplished the emergency procedures checklist; flew fast and expedited our descent. Slowly the information coming from the back of the airplane was that the situation was under control and that there appeared to be no more smoke/fumes coming from the trash bin. ATC asked if we wanted a closer airport but we declined after determining that the situation was not as dire as first thought. We coordinated with ATC; dispatch; the flight attendants and operations that our arrival plan was to have the emergency response vehicles follow us to a gate and then have the firemen board the airplane as a precaution to assess the problem. Landed without incident. After arrival at the gate it was discovered that a passenger had entered the lavatory; smoked an e-cigarette and blew the smoke into the open trash bin. After the smoking passenger left the lav the next passenger discovered smoke coming from the trash bin and reported it to the flight attendant. The biggest threat in my opinion was the communications problems associated with using the smoke goggles. Trying to communicate simultaneously with ATC; flight attendants and each other was very difficult. We also later learned that we had a pass riding Captain in the back that could have really helped in the communication in the back of the airplane but at the time we were unaware that he was there.
We had a normal takeoff and everything was fine until we reached cruise altitude. I had the first officer turn off seat belt sign once at cruise. The lead flight attendant called just after reaching cruise. The first officer answered but then gave inter-phone to me. She said the Lav (aft right) trash bin was emitting smoke and fumes. She could not determine the source of smoke or fumes. I instructed her to fight the smoke by using extinguisher either halon or water whichever could stop the smoke. We accomplished the emergency procedure for smoke and fumes; informed ATC; and ran QRH clean up items. We also reviewed LAV smoke checklist. The most difficult part of our work was talking to ATC and Flight Attendants (FAs) with oxygen mask on. ATC gave us a clearance direct and a descent to FL200. Within the next 4 minutes; I called FA to ask status of smoke and fumes from trash bin. She said smoke had cleared and she smelled some remnant of the fumes but they dumped full bottle of water into the bin. They had pulled bin out and check it's contents but there was only wet paper towels. We decided to continue to our departure airport instead of diverting to a closer one; once FA informed us smoke was cleared. We then removed our oxygen masks and used normal communications. Soon a pass riding 737 Captain who did not check in with us called to inform us that neither one of the squibs in trash bin had discharged.We contacted dispatch and informed them of our smoke and fume problem and that we were returning. We would have emergency personnel follow us to the gate. We expedited our descent and landed after running normal checklist items. Once we arrive at gate we had passengers remain in seats until fire personnel could evaluate aft Lav. I then talked to FA again and fire personnel as we tried to determine cause of smoke and fumes. I asked if she remembered what passenger was in Lav just before smoke was discovered. She did not remember but then a female passenger stood to say she could recognize person if she saw him again. We went to jet bridge where police were waiting. The young man was identified and once questioned admitted that he blew smoke from an e-cigarette into trash bin.
A B737 Flight Crew reported being informed by a Flight Attendant of smoke coming from an aft lavatory trash bin just after level off at FL330. ATC is advised and the flight returns to the departure airport. The smoke quickly dissipates during the descent and no charred paper is found in the trash bin. At the gate a passenger admits to having smoked an E-cigarette and blowing the smoke into the trash bin.