A traveler narrowly avoided criminal charges after lighting a cigarette onboard a Southwest Airlines flight that had to refuel at the Durango-La Plata County Airport.

Daniel Villalobos, whose age was not available, was on a flight Thursday headed to Albuquerque from his hometown of Kansas City, Mo., said Don Brockus, spokesman for the Durango-La Plata County Airport.

The flight was diverted to the Durango airport to refuel after circling Albuquerque, where it was unable to land because of poor visibility.

Villalobos is believed to have lit up in the plane’s restroom about the time the plane was landing at the Durango airport, around 7:40 p.m., Brockus said.

The pilot of the plane was notified immediately and notified authorities on the ground.

Villalobos “was promptly kicked off the plane,” he said.

Villalobos was given “a courtesy drive into town to figure out his situation,” Brockus said. He was cooperative and no arrest was made, nor were charges filed, Brockus said.

“He may be facing federal civil fines, but there are no criminal charges associated with this situation that local law enforcement could charge him with,” Brockus said.

Villalobos left Friday morning from the Durango-La Plata County Airport on a United Airlines flight.

pblank@durangoherald.com