Two Indian pilots suspended over cabin crew's mid-air dance (video)
Two Indian pilots have been suspended over a pre-planned mid-air cabin crew dance.
The pilot and first officer of the SpiceJet Airlines flight were suspended after the first officer left the cockpit to record the crew's dance on his phone.
The rehearsed dance was performed to celebrate the colourful Hindu religious event of Holi.
Four SpiceJet flight attendants on the 17 March Goa to Bangalore flight were recorded dancing to the Bollywood hit "Balam Pichkari" in a video that was uploaded to YouTube.
But while it was a hit with the passengers, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation was not so impressed, and sent a note to SpiceJet, saying that dancing in the aisle created an "unruly environment".
According to CBS News, he added: "[The] cabin crew's acts had drawn the attention of other crew on duty, thus reducing their preparedness/alertness.
"The frequent movement of the dancing crew may have affected the aircraft's centre of gravity during flight and created turbulence."
The first officer was suspended for leaving the cockpit, and the captain was suspended for letting him to do so to film the dance.
Airline spokeswoman Priti Dey said crews on five of SpiceJet's flight routes performed the Bollywood number, "to liven up the journey for passengers on Holi festival".
According to the Daily Mail, she added: "We are looking together into the report in cooperation with the DGCA. The cockpit was manned at all time as per DGCA regulations that govern the situation when one pilot is outside for example to use the lavatory.
"The dance was professionally choreographed and was a Holi delight for the passengers, much like it is done by several airlines around the world to celebrate special occasions. The entire dance sequence lasted only for 2.5 minutes."
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