Where there is a will, there is a way. And where there is a rule, there is someone who is willing to exploit its loopholes.
We’ve written about several people who found a way to circumnavigate the intention of some rules.
- Americans figured out way to get to European countries that, at the time, weren’t allowing U.S. citizens to visit
- How some could cross the Canada-U.S. border, even though the border was closed (this was a legal loophole)
- How Americans could enter the Bahamas when it was closed to most U.S. citizens (this one was actually invented by the Bahamas!)
- How some Irish citizens used an airport as a loophole when they were on lockdown
- The couple who got married and divorced 4 times in 5 weeks to get more vacation time
So this next story shouldn’t be the least bit surprising to anyone.
An Indian couple had plans to get married but, of course, India is in the midst of a horrible COVID crisis. The state of Tamil Nadu, where the couple lives, has what they consider to be tough restrictions, complete with lockdown procedures, and is limiting weddings to only 50 guests (which is, of course, a potentially good reason why India’s COVID cases are so out of control, but that’s just my editorial comment, not part of the story).
So the bride and groom, only known as Dheekshana and Rakesh, chartered a SpiceJet plane for 2 hours and flew from Madurai to Bangalore, and then back again. All of their wedding guests were on the plane and the couple got married during mid-flight.
As per Newsweek, the flight was supposedly booked as a “joy ride” (it sounds as if that’s another term for a “flight to nowhere”) for a bunch passengers after the original wedding, which occurred the previous week. However sources who spoke with the New Indian Express shared that they actually got married while on the plane, as they hovered over the Hindu Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple.
Here’s video of chartered flight, and the route they took:
Someone shared the route too : pic.twitter.com/JtOFwlSjK3
— Tarun Shukla (@shukla_tarun) May 24, 2021
I would say to note the lack of masks and social distancing but really, if they were OK with breaking pretty lax gathering laws, why would they care about any other rules that might help mitigate the spread of a virus that has already killed over 300k of their fellow countrymen?
Anyway, after images and video of the unusual event were “out there,” India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA – similar to the FAA) began an investigation into claims of violation of Covid-19 rules.
The DGCA has the authority to order airlines to ensure that passengers comply with coronavirus laws, saying any passenger that didn’t would be removed from the plane and blacklisted.
A SpiceJet spokesperson was quoted via email: “The client was clearly briefed on COVID guidelines to be followed and denied permission for any activity to be performed on board.”
They added: “The group was repeatedly briefed on the safety norms to be followed by the operating cabin crew and advised to follow the protocols laid down by DGCA including restrictions on photography and videography.”
Obviously, the couple, as well as the crew, which has since been suspended during the investigation, didn’t care:
Officials are reportedly unsure if charges should be made, and if so, under which jurisdiction any potential violations would fall.
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This post first appeared on Your Mileage May Vary
