CABIN ATTENDANT RPT; B727-200; EWR-SJU. PAX SMOKING IN LAVATORY; VERBAL ASSAULT. DIVERT TO RDU. POLICE MET FLT.

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RIGHT AFTER TKOF; A PAX CAME BACK AND WENT INTO THE LAVATORY. WE WERE STILL IN OUR JUMP SEAT. 4 OR 5 MINS LATER; WE HEARD THE CHIMES TO GET OUT OF OUR SEATS. FLT ATTENDANT #2 WENT INTO THE GALLEY TO START COFFEE; ETC. THE PAX CAME OUT OF THE LAVATORY AND THE SMOKE POURED OUT INTO MY FACE. MY THROAT AND EYES BURNED; AS I DON'T SMOKE. HE STARTED TO WALK AWAY QUICKLY AND I SAID; 'YOU WERE SMOKING IN THE LAVATORY.' HE SAID NO HE WASN'T AND I COULDN'T PROVE IT. I OPENED THE LAVATORY DOOR TO FIND ASHES ON THE FLOOR AND A CIGARETTE BUTT IN THE TOILET. I CALLED THE CAPT TO LET HIM KNOW. WE WERE MAINTAINING OUR SVC. FLT ATTENDANT #1 CAME BACK TO FIND OUT HIS NAME; ETC. SHE TOOK HIS TICKETS OR PAPERS TO THE COCKPIT. FLT ATTENDANT #3 AND I WERE ON THE CART WHEN HE JUMPED OVER PAX SEATS AND CHARGED AT US; WANTING HIS PAPERS BACK. I FELT THREATENED. FLT ATTENDANT #3 WAS ABLE TO HANDLE HIM. I STAYED AWAY FROM HIM THE DURATION OF THE FLT. 3 PAX SITTING IN FRONT OF HIM SAID HE WAS HITTING THEIR SEATS AND SAID 'THE AIRPLANE IS ON FIRE -- WE ARE ALL GOING TO DIE.' THEY WERE IN TEARS. THE CAPT LANDED IN RDU WHERE LCL POLICE MET THE FLT.