Bahamas Air has fired one of its captains after his first officer reported that she had found him using a vaping smoking device in the cockpit in Nassau, just minutes before a scheduled departure for Florida via local family islands.

Calling it an isolated incident, the company said in a statement this week that the unnamed captain had been relieved of duties after his female first officer complained about the discovery, expressing concern about “cockpit dynamics and safety concerns.”

Both pilots were immediately removed from the ATR commuter aircraft, which was scheduled to touch Abaco Island before heading to West Palm Beach in Florida. The airline admitted that the incident had caused major flight delays and missed connections and appointments for passengers, as well as other forms of disruptions to passengers and managerial operations. The incident had occurred on Aug. 31.

“Going forward, we will continue to reinforce our cockpit management protocols, strengthen leadership development, and ensure that all employees uphold the values and standards expected of a national carrier. Bahamasair maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward any form of intimidation or unprofessional conduct. While no safety issues were reported during the flight, the airline views this matter with the utmost seriousness. The captain involved has since been relieved of his duties and is no longer employed with the airline,” the carrier said in a statement.

Bahamasair is a lifeline carrier for people living in outlying family islands, which are spread out across hundreds of miles in the archipelago, as it is one of the main air services operating between the capital, Nassau, other islands, and nearby Florida, among other destinations.

The company stated that officials acted only after the incident was probed thoroughly, noting that “passenger safety and professional integrity remain our highest priorities. This incident was addressed thoroughly and transparently, and it is not reflective of the professionalism, discipline, and dedication of our outstanding team of pilots who continue to serve the traveling public with distinction.”