Mid-air wedding violated norms
CHENNAI: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Monday initiated an inquiry into the reports of a mid-air wedding ceremony on a chartered SpiceJet flight in violation of the Covid-19 guidelines, and de-rostered the crew.
The action has come after photos of a couple from Madurai that got married on May 23 on a SpiceJet Boeing 737 with nearly 100 wedding guests were widely shared on social media. In the photos shared online, people can be seen jostling for space during the wedding ceremony.
The couple chartered the flight through a travel agent for a round trip between Madurai and Bangalore, people familiar with the matter said on condition of anonymity. The bookings were made for the wedding guests and videographers. “DGCA has directed SpiceJet to lodge complaint against those not following Covid-19 appropriate behaviour with relevant authorities,” a DGCA official said. “The crew has been de-rostered. We are looking into this and will take strict action,” the official added.
Madurai collector Aneesh Sekhar said a preliminary inquiry has been initiated into the matter based on the video footage being circulated in the social media. “Appropriate action would be taken if there was any Covid-19 violation,” Sekhar told news agency PTI.
As part of the Covid-19 restrictions in the state, the Tamil Nadu government has restricted the number of guests at weddings 50. On Saturday, the state extended the ongoing lockdown for another week till May 31, as
the state continues to battle a surge in the Covid-19 infections.
SpiceJet, in a statement issued on Monday, said the flight was charted by a travel agent while the client and the guests were briefed on Covid-19 guidelines and were denied permission for any on-board activity during the flight.
“The approval for this flight was taken as a joy ride for the wedding group. The agent and the guest passengers were briefed in detail, both in writing as well as verbally, on social distancing and safety norms to be followed as per Covid guidelines both at the airport and onboard the aircraft throughout the journey,” the spokesperson said.
The airline is also planning to take action against the passengers, the SpiceJet spokesperson said.
The aviation regulator had in September 2020 issued an order for commercial flights, stating that an airline’s service on a particular route can be suspended for two weeks if it fails to act against crew or passengers who violate in-flight norms such as a ban on mid-air photography. The suspension would stay in place until the airline takes action for violation of norms.