If a passenger activates a lavatory smoke detector, what is the correct course of action?

• A. Silence the alarm yourself.
• B. Inform the Purser, ensure safe evacuation if needed, and follow the onboard procedure for smoke in lavatories.
• C. Detain the passenger.
• D. Ignore until landed.

Answer: (B)

When a lavatory smoke detector activates, treat it as a potential fire and follow the standard crew procedures immediately. The correct action is to inform the Purser, ensure safe evacuation if needed, and carry out the onboard procedure for smoke in lavatories. This sequence ensures the proper chain of command is alerted, assessments of risk are coordinated with the flight deck, and passengers are kept safe—without guessing at the cause or delaying a controlled response.

Silencing the alarm yourself could hide a real problem, so it’s not the appropriate first step. Detaining a passenger is not part of the standard response to a smoke detector event. Ignoring the situation until landing delays addressing a possible hazard and endangers everyone on board.