Two passengers onboard Air India’s AI180 flight from San Francisco to Mumbai via Kolkata had an unpleasant experience after spotting a few small cockroaches during the journey, prompting immediate action from the airline.
Confirming the incident on Monday, an Air India spokesperson stated, “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. Our cabin crew, therefore, relocated the two passengers to other seats in the same cabin, where they were comfortable thereafter.”
The flight had a scheduled fuel stop in Kolkata, where ground staff carried out a deep cleaning process to eliminate any insects. “During the flight’s scheduled fuel stop in Kolkata, our ground crew promptly conducted a deep cleaning process to address the issue. The same aircraft subsequently departed in time for Mumbai,” the spokesperson added.
Air India acknowledged that despite regular fumigation practices, insects can occasionally enter aircraft during ground operations. “Air India will be undertaking a comprehensive investigation to determine the source and the cause of this incident and implement measures to prevent recurrence. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience caused to the passengers,” the airline said.
The flight continued to Mumbai without further delay or disruption.
