Many people turn on their mobile phone speakers to listen to music or watch videos while traveling by train or bus. Who pays attention to whether fellow passengers are being inconvenienced or annoyed by this? This trend is now being seen among air passengers as well. Many people are seen boarding flights and loudly playing music or watching videos without earphones. If you also have this bad habit, be careful right now. Playing music without earphones on flights and disturbing fellow passengers could result in strict legal action against you.
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Recently, V S Matheshwaran, MP from Namakkal, Tamil Nadu, posed a written question on this matter to Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol in the Lok Sabha. In response to the KMDK MP's question, the minister clearly stated that there is no separate law regarding playing music without earphones on flights. However, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) guidelines have provisions to consider this as 'nuisance'.
What could be the punishment?
According to information provided by the minister, under sections 22, 23 and 29 of the Aircraft Rules, 1937 and section 3 of Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR), if any passenger's behavior (such as playing loud music) causes inconvenience to others or disrupts order on the aircraft, it will be considered an offense. As a result, punitive measures may be taken against the concerned passenger. The concerned passenger may also be identified as an 'unruly passenger'. If blacklisted, the passenger could be banned from flying for 3 months to 2 years, or even for life.
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Additionally, the minister reminded that filming or vlogging on flights without permission is also prohibited under section 13 of the Aircraft Rules of 1937. So don't forget to keep earphones in your pocket during your next flight!
