They certainly are. I do feel for the crew in all of this though, a company sanctioned event to help an orphan child realise his dream for a brief moment. Whether or not they were told it was all fine by the company or not we don't know, although as said above, it is of course the PIC's final decision as to what happens.
If anything, the DMAC will want to flex their muscles as a show of authority (false sense of 'safety'). I really do feel for the crew.