A smoker who lit up a cigarette on a flight from Catania has been fined €400.

Luca Di Dio, 28, from Sicily, couldn’t resist his nicotine cravings after the short haul Ryanair flight landed at Malta International Airport yesterday afternoon and so he sparked up a cheeky fag whilst still aboard the aeroplane.

Under Maltese law, smoking is prohibited on public transport and commercial passenger aircraft in particular.

He was arraigned before magistrate Audrey Demicoli by Inspector Silvio Magro and charged with smoking in an aircraft whilst the no smoking sign was on and smoking on public transport.

Di Dio pleaded guilty and was fined €400.

Lawyer Dustin Camilleri was legal aid.