The Centre told Parliament that passengers playing loud music without earphones may face penal action if it amounts to “unruly behaviour” under the Aircraft Rules, 1937. Existing DGCA regulations already allow airlines and pilots to act against disruptive conduct onboard flights.
The Central government has made it clear that passengers who play music loudly inside an aircraft without using earphones can face action if their behaviour falls under the category of “unruly passenger” as defined under aviation laws.
The clarification was given in the Lok Sabha on Thursday in response to a question raised by Namakkal MP Matheshwaran. Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol informed the House that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has already issued Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR) that deal with misconduct by passengers during flights.
He stated that the CAR has been issued under Rules 22, 23 and 29 of the Aircraft Rules, 1937 and clearly covers any
“unlawful or disruptive behaviour on board an aircraft.”
This means that if a passenger plays loud music on a mobile phone or any other electronic device without earphones, and such conduct disturbs others or affects discipline on the aircraft, it can attract penal consequences under existing aviation rules.
The Minister explained the legal framework in detail. Rule 22 of the Aircraft Rules, 1937 deals with refusal of carriage and disembarkation of passengers. Under this provision, airlines can refuse to carry or can remove a passenger if their behaviour is considered inappropriate or unsafe.
Rule 23 gives power to the pilot-in-command to restrain any person who acts in a way that is harmful to the safety of the aircraft or disrupts good order and discipline on board. Rule 29 provides for penalties if there is any violation of the Aircraft Rules.
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By referring to these provisions, the government clarified that there is already a legal mechanism in place to deal with disruptive conduct during flights. Although there is no separate rule specifically mentioning loud music without earphones, such behaviour may still be punished if it amounts to misconduct under the broader definition of unruly behaviour.
When asked about guidelines relating to music played inside aircraft, the Minister clarified that airlines which have in-flight entertainment systems usually follow a standard operational practice. According to him, airlines play soft instrumental music during boarding and disembarkation. Apart from this, other pre-loaded entertainment content may also be made available to passengers during the flight through official systems.
The Minister also responded to a related query concerning video blogging inside aircraft. He pointed out that Rule 13 of the Aircraft Rules restricts photography at aerodromes licensed by the DGCA and also restricts photography from an aircraft in flight without prior written permission. This means that recording videos or taking photographs during flight operations may require proper authorization, especially in sensitive or restricted areas.
Importantly, the government clarified that there is no current proposal to introduce fresh penal provisions specifically targeting passengers who play music without earphones. However, if such behaviour disturbs co-passengers or affects discipline and safety, action can be taken under the existing framework dealing with unruly passengers.
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The response signals that passenger comfort and discipline inside aircraft remain a priority for aviation authorities. While normal use of electronic devices is permitted subject to airline policies, any act that creates inconvenience or disturbs public order inside the aircraft can be examined under the existing legal provisions of the Aircraft Rules, 1937 and the Civil Aviation Requirements issued by the DGCA.
With rising incidents of disruptive behaviour on flights, this clarification reinforces that even seemingly minor acts—such as playing loud music without earphones—can invite legal consequences if they cross the line into disorderly or unsafe conduct under Indian aviation law.
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