Flyers can take photos, videos in flights but can't use recording gadgets that creates chaos: DGCA

Aviation regulator DGCA "clarified" on Sunday passengers can take photos and videos inside flights but can't use any recording equipment that creates chaos, disrupts flight operations, violates safety rms or is banned by crew members.

On Saturday, regulator h said that a scheduled flight will be suspended for a period of two weeks if anyone is found taking photographs inside plane.

Two days back, Directorate General of Civil Aviation h asked IndiGo to take "appropriate action" after it found an alleged violation of safety and social-distancing protocols by media persons in airline's Chandigarh-Mumbai flight that h actor Kangana Ranaut as a passenger.

According to a video of incident that took place inside flight on September 9, reporters and cameramen were jostling and bunching up to get a comment from Ranaut, who was sitting in one of front rows of plane.

DGCA order on Sunday "clarified that a bona fide passenger travelling in an aircraft engd in scheduled air transport services may do still and video photography from inside such an aircraft while in flight; take-off and landing" as per its circular dated December 9, 2004.

"However, this permission does t include use of any recording equipment which imperils or compromises air safety; violates prevalent rms; creates chaos or disruption during operation of a flight or expressly prohibited by crew," order ted.

Action may be initiated against those persons found in violation of above guidelines, order ded.

Sunday order is a clarification on top of Saturday order that said, "It has been decided that from w on, in case any violation (photography) occurs on any scheduled passenger aircraft - schedule of flight for that particular route shall be suspended for a period of two weeks from next day (of incident)." Saturday order stated that as per Rule 13 of Aircraft Rules 1937, person is allowed to take any photographs inside a flight except when permission is granted by DGCA or Civil Aviation Ministry.

As per DGCA rules, an airline can put an "unruly passenger" on its "-fly list" for a certain period of time after an internal enquiry.

About Chandigarh-Mumbai flight incident, a DGCA official h said on Friday that prominent issues with incident were related to "photography on board in violation of Aircraft rules 13, violation of COVID-19 protocols and certain actions falling within purview of unruly behaviour onboard".

Shiv Sena, which hes alliance government in state, and Ranaut h engd in a war of words after she likened Mumbai to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and said she feared Mumbai police more than alleged movie mafia.

On September 9 morning, a team of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) h demolished alterations allegedly me without civic body's approval at Ranaut's bungalow in Pali Hill in Mumbai.

Ranaut arrived in Mumbai same day after demolition through aforementioned IndiGo flight.

(Photo: PTI)