On an Air India flight bound for San Francisco, AI180, to Mumbai via Kolkata, “few small cockroaches” were found on board. As per the airline spokesperson, the official statement revealed that two passengers were inconvenienced by the presence of the pests and were relocated shortly.

The flight had a fuel stop in Kolkata and then underwent a “deep cleaning process” mid-journey. This, however, was simply called an “unfortunate” occurrence by Air India. Netizens furious, slammed the airline and question why this was an “inconvenience” and not “alarming”. “What is ‘few small cockroaches’? It should be alarming…Not a small irritant,” wrote a user on X (formerly Twitter)

The complete statement issued by Air India revealed that following the midway deep cleaning, the same airplane “subsequently departed in time for Mumbai.” The airline official concluded, “Despite our regular fumigation efforts, insects can sometimes enter an aircraft during ground operations.”

‘Are they afraid of maintaining high standards of safety and hygiene?’

Another user on social media called out the poor hygiene conditions on aircraft and how passenger issues are “refuted by Govt and airlines as trivial with aggressive posturing.” He questioned, “Are they afraid of maintaining high standards of safety and hygiene?”

ALSO READ

This, however, is not the first time pests, insects have been reported on an Air India flight. Another incident from 2024 revealed a cockroach found in the in-flight meals given to passengers. It was discovered in flight AI 101 where the flyer was with her two-year-old child who had already consumed the contaminated food item, as per her post on X (formerly Twitter).

More recently, in July, another user shared images of an insect in their food served by the airline, who allegedly on an Air India flight. At the same time, netizens questioned the regular lapses of in-flight services and questioning the condition of civil aviation airplanes.