Air India on Monday found itself in an embarrassing situation after two passengers on its San Francisco-Mumbai flight reported seeing small cockroaches onboard. The incident occurred while the aircraft was halted in Kolkata for a scheduled stop. The airline later issued a statement calling the incident “unfortunate” and apologised to the passengers involved.
Cockroaches Onboard Air India San Francisco-Mumbai Flight
Flight AI180, operating from San Francisco to Mumbai with a fuel stop in Kolkata, landed in the news for the wrong reasons. As per a report by The Economic Times, two passengers spotted small cockroaches crawling near their seats. Disturbed by the situation, they reported it to the cabin crew. The crew quickly relocated both passengers to alternative seats in the same cabin where they felt more comfortable.
To address the issue, ground staff in Kolkata carried out a deep cleaning of the aircraft. This process took place during the scheduled halt and did not cause any delay in the flight’s journey to Mumbai. The flight took off as per schedule after the cleaning was completed.
Airline Calls The Situation “Unfortunate”
According to a report by India TV, Air India issued a statement explaining the situation. They confirmed that the passengers were shifted to more comfortable seats. The airline added that despite regular fumigation and pest control efforts, insects such as cockroaches can occasionally enter the aircraft during ground handling or catering processes. They called the situation “unfortunate” and apologised for the inconvenience caused to passengers.
However, this is not the first time Air India has faced such complaints. As per a report by The Telegraph India, in September 2024, a flyer on a Delhi-New York flight claimed to have found a cockroach in her omelette. Shockingly, her two-year-old son had eaten most of the meal before it was discovered.
Also Read: Air India Flagged For 100 Safety Violations By DGCA; Regulator Issues Notice
While such incidents may not be life-threatening, they are still disturbing. After all, no one expects to find cockroaches crawling around their seat on a long-haul international flight, right?
Cover Image Courtesy: Air India, Wikipedia/ Aeroprints and Canva Pro/ Erik Karits (Representative Image)