Turbulence over mid-air Holi dance

The aviation regulator has launched a probe against SpiceJet after a video posted on YouTube showed Holi celebrations on its Goa-Bangalore flight. It has served a show cause notice on the budget airline, seeking an explanation for the violation of rules.

The 2.5-minute video shows one of the cockpit crew members, along with two of the cabin crew members, gyrating in the aisle to a popular Bollywood number on March 17.

Sources in the Directorate-General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said the mid-air celebrations violated guidelines for a safe flight. Under the DGCA rules, if one of the two cockpit crew members leaves his seat, a cabin crew member should be present in the cockpit till he returns. However, this did not happen, jeopardising the safety of the passengers, the sources said.

A SpiceJet spokesperson said the carrier was fully cooperating with the DGCA but maintained that the cockpit was manned at all times. “The dance, a professionally choreographed number, was part of the Holi delight package, much like what is done by several airlines around the world to celebrate special occasions.”

The DGCA sources said the airline had not sought permission for such a celebration mid-air. Although eight SpiceJet flights organised such celebrations, the posting of the video on YouTube attracted the attention of the regulator. It is learnt that SpiceJet had sought permission for celebrations on its Varanasi flight, but when the aircraft was on the ground.