Among the most common restrictions associated with curbing COVID-19 have been curbs on wedding functions. Across India, the number of guests and nature of celebrations have been pruned for wedding events to adhere to social distancing norms.
However, a couple in Madurai and their extended families seemingly flouted all these norms as these got married on board a chartered SpiceJet flight.
Images of the wedding, which took place on Sunday, surfaced on social media, showing the groom tying the thali (mangalsutra) on the bride as guests crowded the aircraft's aisle.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the nodal body for civil aviation, announced on Monday that it had begun investigations into the incident. A DGCA statement reported by ANI said, "It has sought a full report from the airline and Airport Authority. SpiceJet crew is off rostered. Airline directed to lodge complaint against those not following COVID-appropriate behaviour with relevant authorities."
S. Senthil Valavan, director of the Madurai Airport, told ANI that “A SpiceJet chartered flight was booked yesterday from Madurai. Airport authority officials were unaware of the mid-air marriage ceremony.”
Hindustan Times reported, "the flight, which flew to Bengaluru from Madurai, was booked by the couple for their wedding ceremony. The couple, reportedly, tied the knot when the plane crossed the historic Meenakshi Amman temple in the Tamil Nadu city."
According to reports, a total of 161 people were on board the flight.
