DGCA rejects proposal to allow Holi celebration during flight

Aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has rejected a proposal from a domestic airline, which had plans to celebrate Holi on board their domestic flights next month.

Aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has rejected a proposal from a domestic airline, which had plans to celebrate Holi on board their domestic flights next month.

The DGCA has rejected a proposal from a domestic airline, which had plans to celebrate Holi on board their domestic flights. (Reuters File Photo)

Sources said a private airline had approached the regulator to discuss a proposal to celebrate Holi on board with passengers and crew but the regulator did not entertain the airline.

A couple of years back, DGCA had issued a show-cause notice to SpiceJet after safety violations on board its flights on Holi came to the regulator’s notice. Recently, DGCA had grounded crew of a private airline for allowing singer Sonu Nigam to use the plane’s PA system to sing songs. DGCA had said this was a violation of approved procedures and risked safety.

“We will not entertain any proposal that may have consequences on flight safety,” said a source. “The DGCA is right in banning any act that compromises flight safety,” said aviation expert Rajji Rai.

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