A wedding on a chartered flight earned top scores for creativity, but it is being investigated for violating Covid safety laws. According to ANI, the aviation regulator has requested a survey, and the SpiceJet flight crew has been taken off duty for the investigation. SpiceJet claims that passengers disobeyed regulations after repeated demands, and the bride, groom, and their families could face consequences.
The Madurai couple were seen getting married on a plane with their friends and family around them in a video that has since gone viral on social media. They had planned to fly from Madurai to Bengaluru on a SpiceJet flight. During the flight, the wedding was solemnized. On social media, a video of the wedding ceremony, which was held on the plane in utter violation of Covid-19 rules, went viral.
The couple Rakesh-Dakshina and the people around them were seen without any facemasks and were not observing any social distancing in the 7-second video posted by user @DonthuRamesh.
The bride is dressed in flowers and jewelry, while the groom is dressed in traditional south Indian garb.
There are more visuals inside the aircraft that show people sitting and enjoying the function. In what seems to be a crowded flight, the majority of them are not wearing face masks, and there is no social distancing.
The DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation) has opened an investigation into the ceremony in the air.
“A SpiceJet chartered flight was booked yesterday from Madurai. Airport Authority officials were unaware of the mid-air marriage ceremony”, Madurai Airport Director, S Senthil Valavan, was quoted as telling ANI.
SpiceJet said in a statement that the flight was chartered by a travel agent on May 23 for a “post-wedding joyride.” “The client was given a thorough explanation of the Covid protocols to follow and was refused permission to do any operation on board. The agent and the guest passengers were briefed in-depth on social distancing and safety norms to be observed as per Covid guidelines both at the airport and on board the aircraft during the flight, both in writing and orally “According to the private airline.
“Despite repeated requests and reminders the passengers did not follow Covid guidelines and the airline is taking appropriate action as per rules,” said a SpiceJet spokesperson.
Tamil Nadu is currently under lockdown till May 31 due to prevailing Covid-19 restrictions.
