Cockroaches on board, Air India faces fresh embarrassment over hygiene

Air India has found itself in fresh turbulence after passengers on a San Francisco–Mumbai flight (AI 180) reported spotting cockroaches mid-air, triggering renewed criticism over the Tata Group-owned airline’s hygiene and safety standards.

The incident occurred on a long-haul flight with a scheduled stop in Kolkata. According to the airline, two passengers complained about “a few small cockroaches” inside the cabin. The crew promptly relocated them to other seats in the same section, where they were reportedly comfortable thereafter.

The aircraft was deep-cleaned during its Kolkata stop before continuing to Mumbai. “Despite regular fumigation, insects can sometimes enter during ground operations. We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience,” said an Air India spokesperson.

The airline has launched a comprehensive investigation to trace the source and prevent recurrence. But the apology may not be enough to silence growing public frustration over Air India’s persistent maintenance and service issues.

The cockroach sighting is just the latest in a spate of troubling incidents. In June, the same AI 180 flight faced a prolonged delay due to an engine snag. Around that time, a Tokyo–Delhi flight had to divert to Kolkata due to extreme cabin temperatures, while another Mumbai-Chennai service returned shortly after takeoff following reports of a burning smell. An Air India Express flight from Delhi to Jammu also turned back mid-air over a technical fault.

The airline, now under Tata Group’s management, is also under regulatory scrutiny following a fatal Dreamliner crash in June and sharp observations from aviation watchdog DGCA over safety violations.

Complaints around in-flight cleanliness and food hygiene remain a sore point. Last year, a passenger on a Delhi-New York flight claimed her child fell ill after she found a cockroach in her omelette. In another incident, a metal blade was discovered in a fig chaat served onboard a Bengaluru–San Francisco flight.

India