BEIJING - China has revoked the licences of two Air China pilots after a vaping incident in the cockpit forced an emergency descent last week.
A passenger flight from Hong Kong to Dalian had to drop more than 6,500m (21,000ft) due to a sudden loss of cabin pressure.
Investigators said it was caused by one of the pilots smoking an e-cigarette.
The civil aviation body fined the airline and cut the carrier's flights with Boeing 737 models by 10%.
It also ordered Air China to undertake a three-month safety review.
The mid-air drama unfolded when one of the pilots, who was vaping, tried to turn off a fan to stop his smoke reaching the passenger cabin. Instead, he turned off the air-conditioning unit, causing a drop in the cabin's oxygen levels.
Emergency measures were triggered, and oxygen masks dropped.
The plane was forced to descend rapidly.(FA)
