A wedding in India is no less than a festival, with some families going so far as to hire Beyoncé to perform at their Sangeet (music night) ceremony. In this case, one couple took the celebration to another level and booked an entire airplane to marry in the middle of a COVID lockdown.
On Sunday, a couple from Tamil Nadu, a Southern state in India that recently extended its COVID lockdown to May 31, tied the knot on a SpiceJet chartered flight with 130 guests in attendance, reported Hindustan Times (HT). They flew from Madhurai, Tamil Nadu to Bangalore, Karnataka, and apparently said their vows when the plane was above the well-known Meenakshi Amman temple.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Monday, according to HT, ordered strict action
After pictures and videos of the bride and the groom and their many guests, dressed in their finest clothes and jewelry and standing packed in close to one another with no masks, went viral, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) ordered strict action against them.
“On the incident of Madurai couple getting married onboard SpiceJet flight yesterday, the DGCA has directed SpiceJet to lodge a complaint against those not following COVID-19 appropriate behavior with relevant authorities,” a DGCA official told HT.
“The crew has been de-rostered. We are looking into this and will take strict action,” the official further added.
A couple tied the knot on-board a chartered flight from Madurai, Tamil Nadu. Their relatives & guests were on the same flight.
“A SpiceJet chartered flight was booked y’day from Madurai. Airport Authority officials unaware of the mid-air marriage ceremony,” says Airport Director pic.twitter.com/wzMCyMKt5m
— ANI (@ANI) May 24, 2021
Madurai airport director S Senthil Valavan, speaking to Asian News International (ANI) said, “A SpiceJet chartered flight was booked yesterday from Madurai. Airport authority officials unaware of the mid-air marriage ceremony.”
According to the couple, reported India Today, all 130 passengers were relatives who tested negative for COVID before getting onboard.
A lawyer on Twitter, congratulating the couple, listed down the counts on which the couple could be charged.
“Marriage in a plane to duck covid social gathering restrictions: SOCIALLY; smart and innovative, but, LEGALLY; mischief and illegal act. Section 188 IPC and 51 NDMA are applicable. Albeit, Congratulations to the couple,” he wrote.
Marriage in a plane to duck covid social gathering restrixtions: SOCIALLY; smart and innovative, but, LEGALLY; a mischief and illegal act.Section 188 IPC and 51 NDMA is applicable. Albeit, Congratulations to the couple. @CMOTamilnadu @TOI
— Prashant Kanha (@PYLawman) May 24, 2021
The in-air wedding has left commenters split, with one Twitter user saying: “This is the epitome of privilege. With so many fundraisers about where people can’t afford to even get CT scans, this person thought he could use his money to flout rules. This is pathetic and I do not wish the best for the couple at all.”
Both Tamil Nadu and Karnataka have recently extended their lockdown deadlines to May 31 and June 7, respectively, due to an increase in coronavirus infections. According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Tamil Nadu added 9,865 fresh cases yesterday, adding up to a cumulative total of 294,143 active cases with 20,468 total deaths. Karnataka has reported 473,007 active cases with a total of 25,282 deaths.
Twitter/ DonthuRamesh
