Whether smoking vaping on an airplane is a crime needs to be judged on a case-by-case basis. According to Chinese laws and regulations, smoking on an airplane is illegal, because smoking affects flight safety and poses a threat to the safety of other passengers. Therefore, if you are caught vaping on an airplane, you may be punished accordingly. In short, we should abide by the laws and regulations and not smoke on the plane to ensure flight safety and our own health.
As for whether smoking e-cigarettes on an airplane in California is a federal crime, it can be understood according to local laws and regulations.