Jet Airways suspends cabin crew for letting Sonu Nigam sing in-flight (Lead, superseding previous story) (Correcting dates)

Airline major Jet Airways on Friday suspended the entire cabin crew of its February 4 Jodhpur-Mumbai flight for allowing celebrated singer Sonu Nigam to use the in-flight announcement system to sing for his fellow passengers.

"All cabin crew on the flight have been taken off from flight duty for enquiry and corrective training to reinforce strict adherence to operating procedures," said a Jet Airways spokesperson.

Online videos uploaded by some passengers show Sonu, dressed casually in a t-shirt and jeans, leaning against a bulkhead as he sings two of his popular songs from the films "Veer Zaara" and "Refugee".

Sonu has termed as "real intolerance" the Jet Airways' decision.

"I have witnessed an elaborate fashion show in an aircraft. I have heard of small concerts happening in an aircraft. I have seen pilots and crew members cracking humorous jokes to loosen up passengers in other countries, which is so cool," Sonu told IANS via a text message.

"To suspend crew members for asking me to sing on the address system, when the seat belt signs were off, and no announcements were to be made, is nothing less than punishing someone for spreading happiness.

"Pity there's no one to question such harshness except the media perhaps. Indians, need to loosen up. This act of lack of common Sense, according to me, is real intolerance."