DGCA gives clarification on suspension of Jet Airways cabin crew

NEW DELHI: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has clarified that the suspension of cabin crew member of a Jet Airways flight from Jodhpur to Mumbai - which saw playback singer Sonu Nigam sing through the passenger announcement system – was because the proper standard operating procedure was not followed.

“The flight was descending when the song was being sung on the passenger announcement system. Passengers were standing in the aisle and a slight turbulence would have led to passengers being hit. Already there had been two incidents wherein passengers were hurt due to inflight turbulence and such violations cannot be tolerated by DGCA,” said a senior DGCA official, who did not want to be identified.

He added that instances where the passenger announcement system can be used is defined under the rules and ‘singing surely is not one of them,’ he added.

On a flight between Jodhpur and Mumbai on January 4, 2015, Nigam used the flight announcement system to sing after it was allowed by the air hostesses of the Jet Airways flight. All five cabin crew members on the flight have been taken off of flight duty for inquiry.