‘Jet staff penalty real intolerance’

A day after five Jet Airways cabin crew members were suspended after singer Sonu Nigam was allowed to belt out Bollywood songs using the in-flight address system, he has reacted to the controversy calling the action “real intolerance.”

Social media, especially the film fraternity, expressed outrage at what they felt was a harsh punishment handed out to the private airline staff by the DGCA. The civil aviation ministry, however, justified the action.

The incident occurred on a chartered flight from Jodhpur to Mumbai on January 4, when the “errant” crewmembers allowed Nigam, 42, to hold a sort of musical concert onboard following a request from fellow passengers, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) sources said.

The matter came to DGCA’s notice after a video of Nigam singing onboard the flight went viral on social media. Action has been initiated against the crewmembers since allowing a passenger to use the public address system on board a flight amounts to violation of safety norms, the sources said. “All cabin crew on the flight have been taken off flight duty for inquiry and corrective training to reinforce strict adherence to operating procedures,” Jet Airways said in a statement.

As per a Civil Aviation Requirement (CAR) on training and licensing of cabin crew, issued by DGCA in 2010, “The PA (public address) system and interphone system are tools for relaying safety information.”

A statement issued by the singer said that when he sang there were no announcements that were needed to be made and the action against the cabin crew was “utter nonsense”.

“To suspend crew members for asking me to sing on the address system, when the seat belt signs were off, and no announcements were to be made, is nothing less than punishing someone for spreading happiness. Pity there’s no one to question such harshness except the media perhaps. Indians, need to loosen up. This act of lack of common sense, according to me, is real intolerance,” he said, adding, “I have witnessed an elaborate fashion show in an aircraft. I have heard of small concerts happening in an aircraft. I have seen pilots and crew members cracking humorous jokes to loosen up passengers in other countries, which is so cool.”

Civil aviation minister Mahesh Sharma defended the action by the airline, saying safety protocols have to be followed.

“If at all... these hostesses should have gotten a raise. Life cannot be so stiff — thoda chill karo yaar,” said actor Riteish Deshmukh.