NEW DELHI: Air India has issued an apology after passengers onboard its August 2 San Francisco–Mumbai flight (via Kolkata) reported spotting cockroaches mid-flight. The airline confirmed that the affected aircraft, a relatively new ex-Delta Boeing 777 (VT-AEH), underwent a deep cleaning during its scheduled stop in Kolkata and promised a full investigation to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The issue surfaced during the long-haul journey to Kolkata, which lasted approximately 16 hours. According to an Air India spokesperson, “two passengers were unfortunately bothered by the presence of a few small cockroaches on board,” prompting cabin crew to relocate them to different seats.
“During the flight’s scheduled fuel stop in Kolkata, our ground crew promptly conducted a deep cleaning process to address the issue,” the spokesperson said. “Despite our regular fumigation efforts, insects can sometimes enter an aircraft during ground operations. We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience caused.”
Air India also assured that the same aircraft resumed its onward journey to Mumbai on schedule and emphasized that a comprehensive investigation would be conducted to identify the source of the infestation and implement preventive measures.
This incident has once again drawn attention to airline hygiene standards, especially on ultra-long-haul international routes.
