Cockroach Discovery Onboard Triggers Panic
If you thought in-flight problems meant just turbulence and lost baggage, think again. On August 4, 2025, passengers flying Air India’s AI180 from San Francisco to Mumbai found themselves dealing with an unexpected and unpleasant surprise—cockroaches crawling around the cabin. Folks reported spotting these insects somewhere mid-flight, causing quite the stir in the packed Boeing 777 aircraft. Cabin crew acted quickly, quietly moving two startled passengers to nearby seats in the same section. But that wasn’t enough to calm the passengers, who were visibly distressed by the discovery.
This particular aircraft wasn’t new to Air India. It was an ex-Delta Boeing 777 registered as VT-AEH, and on this day, it made a scheduled fuel and crew stop in Kolkata before heading to Mumbai. What should have been a routine stop turned into a hectic cleaning operation as ground staff jumped into action for a deep clean, scrubbing and fumigating after the complaints surfaced.
Air India Responds to Hygiene Scare
Air India didn’t shy away from addressing the issue. The airline admitted the incident was "unfortunate" and explained that even with regular fumigation and cleaning, pests can still slip in, often during ground handling. Airports are busy places, and with constant loading and unloading, doors open to the tarmac, and catering trucks, it’s an ongoing battle to keep spaces cockroach-free.
After the cleaning spree in Kolkata, the flight resumed on schedule to Mumbai. But the whole episode has left an uneasy feeling among passengers, especially since this is not the first time Air India has made headlines for operational glitches. In recent months, there have been multiple reports about technical faults and service complaints, putting a spotlight on the airline’s safety and hygiene standards.
The official apology from Air India included promises of a “comprehensive investigation” into how the cockroaches managed to get on board and a pledge to ramp up their preventive efforts. They aim to track down the weak links in their cleaning routines and ground handling to avoid such incidents in the future.
For international travelers—many on long-haul flights like this one—the idea of sharing space with pests is unsettling. This episode has sparked frustration and debate among travelers, frequent flyers, and industry insiders, who want reassurance that long flights are at least pest-free, if not always smooth.
