Plumber who sparked chaos on a Jetstar plane when he vaped in a toilet is unmasked – as passengers claim they get away with it all the time

EXCLUSIVE

A Jetstar passenger booted off a flight for vaping in the toilet has been unmasked as a Sydney plumber.

Justin Kauter was travelling from Sydney to Bali on Wednesday October 4 when he was busted vaping after setting off the aircraft’s smoke alarm.

Viral footage shows Mr Kauter carrying his suitcase down the aisle as he was escorted off the aircraft by Australian Federal Police. 

Now, Daily Mail Australia can reveal Mr Kauter is employed at a small family plumbing business owned by a relative. 

According to social media, the young father has been working at the business for the past five years. 

When contacted by Daily Mail Australia on Thursday, Mr Kauter’s mother said she was aware of his trip to Bali but did not know about the vaping incident or his newfound viral fame. 

Daily Mail Australia understands Mr Kauter rebooked a new flight and flew to Bali two days after the incident.

Sources say the commotion caused an hour-and-a-half delay for fellow passengers as airline staff called in cops to remove him from the flight.  

Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Mr Kauter for comment.  

Under Australian law, smoking and the use of e-cigarettes, such as vapes, is strictly banned on aircrafts and carries heavy penalties.

A Jetstar spokesperson said airline staff called the AFP to help remove Mr Kauter from the plane after the vapour set off the aircraft’s smoke alarms prior to departure.

‘Customers cannot vape on a plane, it’s as simple as that,’ an airline spokesman said.

‘The use of all types of e-cigarettes on aircraft is strictly prohibited.

‘Safety is our top priority, and this type of behaviour will never be tolerated by our crew.’

Daily Mail Australia understands Mr Kauter was not charged over the incident. 

The video has been viewed more than five million times and garnered around 177,000 likes after it was posted online earlier this month. 

Mr Kauter (pictured) was filmed being escorted off the plane earlier this month 

Mr Kauter works as a plumber at a family business

Mr Kauter (right) is pictured on a plumbing job 

The clip sparked furious debate online with dozens of vapers admitting they do it ‘all the time’ while other social media users slammed the behaviour. 

One person said it ‘seems like he’s just inexperienced, I’ve never had any issues’ while someone else suggested: ‘You just hold it in and don’t blow out.’ 

‘I literally just wait for take off [then] put a blanket or sweater over my head,’ a third  added.

‘Vape in the bathroom lol,’ another woman said.

However, others were stunned by how many had admitted to breaking the aviation rule. 

‘The lack of self control is amazing,’ one person wrote.

‘This is such an obvious rule that’s even written all over the plane and when you buy your ticket. How do people do this anymore? You couldn’t go without it?,’ another said. 

Mr Kauter is not the first person to be kicked off a flight in Australia for taking a sneaky puff.

In May 2021, a Queensland man was fined $4,000 for vaping while drunk and disorderly onboard a Jetstar flight to Hobart. 

Just four months later, a Perth man found himself facing a potential fine of $16,800 after being charged with vaping in his seat and the toilet before illegally using his mobile phone when the plane was approaching to land.

Footage of Mr Kauter being removed from the plane by AFP officers has since circulated online