2-Week Suspension if Covid Protocol Violated on Flights, Warns DGCA after Kangana Row on IndiGo

The DGCA has warned that airlines violating social distancing norms will face a suspension of 2-weeks. The authority issued an official statement regarding the same after a media persons were seen violating the norms on & IndiGo Mumbai-Chandigarh flight on which Kangana Ranaut was flying.

In a statement, DGCA said that “From now on, in case any such violation occurs, the schedule of flight for that particular route shall be suspended for 2 weeks unless airline takes punitive action against violators".

On Friday, senior officials said that the regulator had asked for a report from IndiGo airlines on the alleged violation of safety & social distancing protocols by media persons in its Chandigarh-Mumbai flight that had actor Kangana Ranaut as a passenger.

A DGCA official said that "We have seen some videos wherein media persons are standing too close to each other in the 6E264 flight on Wednesday. It seems to be a violation of safety & social distancing protocols. We have asked IndiGo to submit a report on this incident".

Another DGCA official confirmed that the regulator has asked for a report from the airline on this incident. Ranaut was sitting in one of the front rows of the Chandigarh-Mumbai flight on Wednesday, the official added.

Many media persons were also on board the same flight. As per the Civil Aviation Ministry's social distancing rules issued on May 25, "on arrival at the destination, the passengers should be allowed to exit (the plane) in a sequence so as to avoid any bunching".

The airline issued an official statement regarding the same that read: "We would like to reiterate that our cabin crew, as well as the Captain, followed all the requisite protocols, including announcements to restrict photography, follow social distancing & maintain overall safety. IndiGo also followed the requisite protocol of documenting this matter in its post-flight report." 

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