Official broadcaster CCTV say the incident occurred at around 1am Sunday aboard a Shenzhen Airlines flight from the city of Taizhou to Guangzhou near Hong Kong.
They say the plane landed at Guangzhou airport and 95 passengers and nine crew members exited using slides. Two people were injured.
The incident appears to point to a serious breakdown in security at Taizhou airport. China bans the carrying of cigarette lighters and flammable substances, including spirits, aboard all flights.
Guangzhou airport police and Shenzhen Airlines said they had no additional information about the incident or the man's motivation.
Read original story here.