After asking the airlines to take action against anyone found to be taking photographs on a flight, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Sunday clarified that passengers onboard commercial flights will be allowed to take still and video photography inside the flight, but they can't use any recording equipment that creates chaos, disrupts flight operations and violates safety norms.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation on Saturday had said a scheduled flight will be suspended for a period of two weeks if anyone is found taking photographs inside the plane.

“It is clarified that a bonafide passenger travelling in an aircraft engaged in scheduled air transport services may do still and video photography from inside such an aircraft while in flight, take-off, and landing...

“However, this permission does not include use of recording equipment which imperils or compromises air safety; violates prevalent norms; creates chaos or disruption during operation of a flight or expressly prohibited by the crew,” the clarification from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation said. Action may be initiated against those persons found in violation of the above guidelines, the order added.

 “In case of any violation of Rule 13 of Aircraft Rules 1937 on any passenger aircraft, the schedule of flight for that particular route shall be suspended for two weeks from the next day,” the DGCA statement read. The rule cited by DGCA, deals with conditions of photography and videography onboard commercial passenger flights.

It added that despite these regulations, airlines have often failed to follow rules primarily due to lack of diligence on their part. “Needless to say that such deviations result in a compromise in maintaining the highest standard of safety and therefore is not to be allowed,” the DGCA said.