Was there ever an accident from in-flight smoking? In the 80s and 90s, regulation increased to prohibit smoking in passenger planes. Was smoking ever identified as the cause for serious accident in flight (for example the cabin caught fire as a result of a stray cigarette on the carpeting or seats)?
24 December 1982; CAAC Ilyushin 18B; Canton (Guangzhou), China: The aircraft was on a scheduled domestic flight when an onboard fire broke out as a result of a carelessly discarded cigarette. The aircraft landed and the passengers and crew evacuated, but 25 of the 50 passengers were killed. All 11 crew members survived. source