SpiceJet Plays National Anthem By Mistake While Passengers Were Strapped Inside Flight

The passengers on Hyderabad bound SpiceJet flight SG1044 were caught in  an awkward situation after the cabin crew inadvertently played national anthem just before landing.

The passengers could not stand up for the national anthem as they were instructed to put their straps on for safety reasons.

The incident took place on April 18 when the SpiceJet flight departed from Tirupati and was about to land at Hyderabad airport prompting a passenger to file a complaint with the airline, reported The Times of India.

Describing the situation inside the flight,  a passenger told the newspaper,"We were surprised when the national anthem was played and the passengers were forced to abide by the pilot's directions to keep the seat belt on."

He also alleged that one of the cabin crew members switched off the music system in the midlle and again switched it on.

A SpiceJet spokesman said that the crew inadvertently selected the wrong number on the playlist and the National Anthem started playing which was immediately stopped. He expressed regret over the incident.

While this incident may just be an inadvertent mistake on the part of the crew members but  the debate over showing respect during national anthem had escalated after a wheel-chair bound writer and poet was allegedly beaten up by a couple in a Goan multiplex, for not standing up during the national anthem.

In a similar incident, a 59-year-old man was allegedly assaulted in a movie theatre in Mumbai for not standing up when the National Anthem tune was played on screen during a scene of Aamir Khan's film 'Dangal'.

In February, the Supreme Court had clarified that the audience need not stand when the National Anthem is being played as part of the storyline of a film or documentary.