Made to be broken?
Rules are rules. Not made to be broken. Break the rules, lose your job. Simple. He was sacked for breaking the rules, not for smoking. How long has Air 2000 had a no smoking in the cockpit rule, 15 yrs?
He knew the rules, broke them, was sacked, QED. End of story.
And I have no sympathy at all, whatever my views on smoking.