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Passengers report cockroach infestation on Air India's San Francisco-Mumbai flight

Passengers report cockroach infestation on Air India's San Francisco-Mumbai flight
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Air India | Official Website

Passengers on an Air India flight from San Francisco to Mumbai recently encountered cockroaches in their seating area, leading to concerns about cleanliness and safety onboard. The incident took place on flight AI180, which uses a Boeing 777-200LR and operates with a scheduled stopover in Kolkata before continuing to Mumbai.

According to Air India, "two passengers were unfortunately bothered by the presence of a few small cockroaches on board." After the issue was reported, the affected passengers were moved to different seats within the same cabin. Air India added, "Despite our regular fumigation efforts, insects can sometimes enter an 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."

The airline conducted deep cleaning procedures during its layover in Kolkata. Despite these additional cleaning efforts, there was no delay for the onward journey, and the aircraft departed as scheduled.

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This is not the first time that Air India has faced scrutiny over similar issues. In September 2024, another incident involving cockroaches occurred on a US-bound flight when a passenger discovered a cockroach in their food while traveling from New Delhi to New York’s John F Kennedy International Airport. In that case, after images and videos were shared online showing the insect in an inflight meal—consumed by a child who later suffered food poisoning—Air India apologized and raised the issue with its catering provider.

The recent change in routing for flight AI180 is due to Pakistan's closure of its airspace to Indian airlines amid ongoing geopolitical tensions. This has forced Air India flights between San Francisco and Mumbai to operate via longer routes over the Pacific Ocean with stopovers such as Kolkata or previously Vienna.

These incidents have prompted questions regarding hygiene standards at Air India during a period when the airline is already under public scrutiny.

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