Kangana flight chaos: IndiGo 'reinforcing' its inflight messaging on 'no photography on board'

NEW DELHI: India’s aviation reporter has warned airlines that a repeat of the unruly scenes witnessed on IndiGo’s Chandigarh-Mumbai flight this Wednesday that had actress Kangana Ranaut onboard, will lead to carriers being suspending from operating that route — on which such an instance takes place — for two weeks.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Saturday issued an order, reiterating photography is not allowed at a “government aerodrome or from an aircraft in flight… except (with)..permission in writing by (certain designated aviation officials)… This permission is, however, not applicable when such aircraft is landing, taking off or on ground at a defence aerodrome.”

While the wording of Saturday’s order conveys no photography is allowed on board aircraft or airports, top officials say the intent is to prevent a repeat of what happened on Ranaut’s Chandigarh-Mumbai flight. “We do not intend to stop photography, say like with their mobiles, that passengers of all ages do while travelling (except at defence airfields). The idea is not to let safety protocol be violated due to a frenzy and stop intrusion of privacy inflight for anyone,” said a senior official.
But how airlines view and implement this order remains to be seen. IndiGo, for instance, said: “In line with (Saturday’s) directive, we are reinforcing our messaging in flight on prohibition of photography while on board.” Comments from other airlines were sought and are awaited.
The regulator has also slammed IndiGo for failing to prevent the frenzied behaviour by electronic media once the aircraft touched down in Mumbai by allowing so many “big cameras” on the flight and not stopping them at Chandigarh airport with help of security personnel.

Separately, the DGCA has shot off a strongly-worded letter to IndiGo president and COO Wolfgang Prock-Schauer over “a number of violations” and “failing to take suitable and effective remedial measures” on Ranaut’s flight (6E-264). IndiGo has been directed to “submit an action taken report within 15 days, failing which suitable action will be initiated against the airline.”

Among the violations, the letter lists: “number of media personnel carried their camera and did recording, while boarding the flight at Chandigarh; They recorded and live streamed inside (aircraft) without permission from DGCA; some passengers flouted crew instruction during boarding, inflight and after landing which is unruly behaviour and the airline failed to act; some airline staff and passengers not following COVID-19 protocol.”

On its part, IndiGo Friday said in a statement about flight 6E 264 that its “cabin crew, as well as the captain, followed all the requisite protocols, including announcements to restrict photography, follow social distancing and maintain overall safety. IndiGo also followed the requisite protocol of documenting this matter in its post-flight report. We are committed to providing a safe, hassle-free experience to our passengers.”