Pune businessman hospitalised after consuming soft drink with ‘metal shards’ on SpiceJet flight

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A businessman from Aundh in Pune had to be hospitalised after allegedly consuming a contaminated soft drink onboard a SpiceJet flight from Goa to Pune on Monday evening.

The incident occurred on flight SG-1080, where Abhijit Bhosle, travelling with two friends, developed severe throat irritation and stomach pain shortly after taking a few sips of a canned beverage served by the airline.

Bhosle had gone to Goa for a quick beach getaway with his friends, Mahesh Gupta and Raj Kumar Agarwal. Their return flight, SpiceJet SG-1080, was delayed but boarding was completed around 7 pm. The flight took off and, about 20 minutes later, the cabin crew began serving refreshments. Bhosle purchased a can of soft drink and a packet of fox nuts.

Within minutes of drinking the soft drink, he began to feel irritation in his throat. "As I continued to sip, the irritation increased and stomach pain started. Soon, the pain and the irritation were too much to bear. My friends, Mahesh Gupta and Raj Kumar Agarwal, sitting next to me realised the gravity of the situation and decided to act," he was quoted by TOI as saying.

Gupta said they were shocked to discover small metal shards inside the can. "We found several metal shards in the drink. We shook the can after emptying it in front of the cabin crew. It made a rattling sound. We wanted to keep the can with us as evidence so that we could escalate it to competent authorities. But the cabin crew took it away from us, citing it was their property," he said.

As Bhosle’s condition worsened, the crew alerted the captain and arranged for medical help upon landing. The flight touched down at Pune airport around 7.50 pm. An ambulance was ready and Bhosle was rushed to Ruby Hall Clinic near the station. Agarwal accompanied him to the hospital while Gupta stayed behind in a bid to retrieve the can from the crew. When his efforts failed, he filed a written complaint with SpiceJet.

Doctors at Ruby Hall Clinic conducted an X-ray and other preliminary tests during Bhosle’s three-hour hospital stay. A hospital staff said Bhosle was stable but had been advised further consultation after a couple of days.

Bhosle came back to his home on Tuesday. Responding to the incident, a SpiceJet spokesperson confirmed that the passenger had ordered a sealed can of soft drink with fox nuts. “The can was served sealed, in line with the airline's standard practice. Later during the flight, the passenger reported discomfort after consuming the drink and claimed to have found a metal object inside. Our crew immediately assisted the passenger, checked for a doctor onboard (none was available), and kept the captain and airport team informed. An ambulance was arranged in advance," the spokesperson said."

The airline further explained that comprehensive medical checks, including X-rays of the throat, chest, and abdomen, showed no foreign object. Though doctors suggested an endoscopy for further clarity, Bhosle chose not to undergo the procedure. SpiceJet said all medical expenses were covered by the airline, and staff stayed with the passenger throughout. The soft drink can, they added, had been kept aside for investigation by the vendor.