Passengers aboard Air India flight AI180 from San Francisco to Mumbai were in for an unpleasant surprise when a few cockroaches were spotted mid-air.
The incident occurred during the initial leg of the flight, which had a scheduled stopover in Kolkata.
According to Air India, two passengers noticed small cockroaches in the cabin. Following this, the cabin crew quickly moved both passengers to alternate seats within the same class for the rest of the journey.
After the aircraft landed in Kolkata for refueling, a deep cleaning operation was carried out by the ground staff before the flight proceeded to Mumbai.
In a statement, the airline confirmed the presence of the insects, stating, “On flight AI180 from San Francisco to Mumbai via Kolkata, two passengers were unfortunately bothered by the presence of a few small cockroaches on board.” It added, “Despite our regular fumigation efforts, insects can sometimes enter an aircraft during ground operations.”
Air India has expressed regret for the inconvenience. It further stated that an investigation is underway to determine the source of the infestation and implement measures to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
This latest episode comes just a day after another operational issue involving a Delhi-bound Air India flight from Bhubaneswar, which was cancelled due to unusually high cabin temperatures before takeoff on Sunday.
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