Mumbai: In an unusual mid-air incident, passengers on Air India flight AI180 from San Francisco to Mumbai via Kolkata were left shocked after spotting cockroaches inside the cabin. The airline has since issued a statement, confirming the presence of “a few small cockroaches” on board and assuring that a detailed investigation is underway.
According to an Air India spokesperson, two passengers raised concerns after noticing the insects during the flight. The cabin crew responded by relocating the affected passengers to other available seats within the same cabin to ensure their comfort.
“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,” the spokesperson said. “Our cabin crew, therefore, relocated the two passengers to other seats in the same cabin, where they were comfortable thereafter.”
The aircraft made a scheduled fuel stop in Kolkata, during which ground staff carried out a deep cleaning process to address the hygiene issue. The airline stated that the aircraft departed for Mumbai on time following the clean-up.
Despite regular fumigation protocols, the airline acknowledged that such incidents can occur due to pests entering the 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 added.
