DGCA says ‘no’ to Holi bash on board aircraft

Sources said a private airline had approached the regulator to discuss a proposal to celebrate Holi on board with passengers but the regulator did not entertain the airline. “We will not entertain any proposal that may have consequences on flight safety,“ said a source. 

“We have no objection to airlines celebrating festivals with passengers on the ground but such acts when the aircraft is airborne cannot be tolerated,” a senior official in the DGCA said. 

Earlier this month, Jet Airways suspended its air crew staff of five members who allowed playback artist Sonu Nigam to croon on-board using in-flight announcement system. 

The videos of Sonu crooning on-board were posted by some passengers on social media after which DGCA took note of the episode and issued a show cause notice to the Jet Airways and asked to suspend the air hostesses on-board and ensure that such ‘’misuse’’ of the in-flight operation was not allowed in future.