Defamation Suit Filed Against Nora Fatehi Over Aircraft Remarks

An aviation company, Dunes Aviation, has initiated legal action against actress Nora Fatehi, filing a defamation suit in a Gujarat court. The firm alleges that her comments regarding its chartered aircraft, which she labelled as a "toy plane" and a "Lego airplane", were reckless and have harmed the company’s reputation. According to reports from the Press Trust of India (PTI), the controversy began when Fatehi recorded videos inside a Cessna Citation CJ2 aircraft during a flight from Mumbai to Jaipur last December. In these recordings, she described the jet as a "miniature" and a "toy" before sharing the footage on her Instagram account. Dunes Aviation claims that these statements have caused significant reputational harm and commercial losses. The suit, filed in April, further alleges that Fatehi's comments were made without proper factual basis or technical knowledge. The firm reportedly informs the court that her substantial follower base, which exceeds 46 million, has amplified the impact of her statements, leading to a decrease in bookings of about 15 to 20 per cent, along with an increase in cancellations. Dunes Aviation is pursuing damages amounting to ₹3 crore (approximately £300,000) as compensation for the alleged harm. Additionally, the company is requesting that Fatehi publicly clarify her statements and remove all related content from her social media platforms. The case is set to be heard by Senior Civil Judge R Agarwal on September 25. The aircraft in question is said to be fully certified by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), airworthy, and properly operated under a valid Non-Schedule Operator's Permit (NSOP). The suit, documented under the title DUNES AVIATION PRIVATE LIMITED THROUGH ITS AUTHORIZED SIGNATORY SONIA SHIVANG SHAH v/s NAURA FATHI ALIAS NORA FATEHI, highlights the tensions surrounding celebrity statements and their potential implications for businesses.