SpiceJet says sorry to DGCA notice

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), which had issued a showcause notice to budget carrier SpiceJet for violating safety norms by organising dance performances by cabin crew on-board eight flights to celebrate Holi, has received a letter from the airline. “We are yet to consider their replies. But the tenor is not one of defiance. They have tendered apologies and said that in the future, they would not carry out any such performances without the permission of the DGCA,” said a DGCA senior official.

Last week, the regulator had suspended two pilots of the airline for leaving the cockpit and recording a dance sequence of the cabin crew.

SpiceJet had earlier held that there had been no safety violation, adding a Holi dance by cabin crew on board an aircraft was new to India, but similar fun activities were held by airlines around the world.

The DGCA action had come after video recordings came to light, showing the cabin crew dancing in the aisle area, with the pilots present, on a Goa-Bangalore flight.

SpiceJet carried out these performances on as many as eight of its flights.