FLT ATTENDANT RPT; B757-JFK-SXM; CAPT DISCOVERED PAX SMOKE IN LAVATORY. CIGARETTE BUTT IN GARBAGE.

Narrative

CAPT WAS WAITING TO USE FIRST CLASS LAVATORY WHEN PAX SEATED IN SEAT XX EXITED LAVATORY. PURSER (MYSELF) WAS THERE ALONG WITH ANOTHER PAX; ALSO WAITING TO USE FIRST CLASS LAVATORY. ALL 3 OF US SMELLED SMOKE WHEN HE EXITED. CAPT FOUND CIGARETTE BUTT IN LAVATORY GARBAGE. THE NO SMOKING SIGN WAS ON; ALL APPROPRIATE VIDEOS AND PA'S HAD BEEN MADE. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RPTR STATED THAT THE SMOKE ALARM NEVER SOUNDED. SHE SAID THE CAPT HAD THE SEATBELT SIGN ON; BECAUSE THEY WERE GOING THROUGH SOME MODERATE TURB; AND THE PAX GOT UP TO USE THE LAVATORY WHILE THE SIGN WAS STILL ON. THE CAPT CAME OUT IMMEDIATELY TO USE THE LAVATORY AFTER HE TURNED THE SIGN OFF; AND THE MAN WAS EXITING THE LAVATORY; FOLLOWED BY BILLOWING SMOKE. THE RPTR SAID SHE HAD BEEN LED TO BELIEVE BY HER COMPANY THAT THE SMOKE DETECTOR WAS ONLY ACTIVATED BY HEAT; NOT SMOKE. THE RPTR AND THE CAPT WROTE UP RPTS TO THEIR AIRLINE'S EVENTS CTR; AND NOT TO OUTSIDE OFFICIALS; SUCH AS THE FAA.