An Air India passenger on flight AI 180 from San Francisco to Mumbai via Kolkata was startled mid-air when cockroaches were spotted in the cabin. The airline conducted a mid-flight deep clean in Kolkata and launched a full investigation, but what prompted this in the first place?
Air India Apologizes After Cockroaches Found On San Francisco–Mumbai Flight
On August 4, Air India confirmed that passengers on its long‑haul flight AI 180 reported seeing a few small cockroaches in the cabin. The aircraft, an ex-Delta Boeing 777 (registration VT‑AEH), landed in Kolkata for a scheduled fuel stop. Crew relocated two affected passengers to other seats before the aircraft continued to Mumbai.
Air India described the incident as “unfortunate” and said its ground staff performed a deep cleaning during the Kolkata stop. The airline acknowledged its aircraft undergo routine fumigation but noted that insects can occasionally enter during ground handling. A comprehensive investigation into the source and cause was launched.
Per Air India:
“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. Our cabin crew, therefore, relocated the two passengers to other seats in the same cabin, where they were comfortable thereafter. During the flight’s scheduled fuel stop in Kolkata, our ground crew promptly conducted a deep cleaning process to address the issue. The same aircraft subsequently departed in time for Mumbai. 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. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience caused to the passengers.”
Clean Planes Don’t Have Roaches…
An investigation? It’s very simple, really. Just clean up each night and don’t leave food out… just like at home.
Yes, insects can get in during ground handling, even in San Francisco. But it’s hard to imagine cockroaches getting cozy in the cabin unless they had a reason to stay—like crumbs, leftovers, or spilled beverages not properly cleaned. The aircraft in question previously flew for Delta Air Lines. I don’t remember any reports of cockroaches when it was flying as N709DN.
This isn’t the first hygiene-related incident Air India has had, and it likely won’t be the last. Between service issues, maintenance lapses, and the airline’s massive fleet modernization project, it’s clear that attention to detail is still a work in progress. But this is a detail that should never be overlooked.
CONCLUSION
It doesn’t take AI, QR codes, or biometric boarding to keep a cabin clean. Just wipe the surfaces, vacuum the floors, and don’t treat your aircraft like a trash bin. If Air India can’t handle that on the ground, it won’t be able to fix it in the air either…
It amazes me that airlines do not take the time to deep clean their planes. I understand some planes have quick turns but some sit for a very long time at airports and there should be no excuses for them to be dirty.
Therefore , there should be no excuses for allowing dogs into the cabin , with intestinal worms in their spit , licking the people .
Just an example of a flight I take often. Most flights from the US to Brazil land early morning in GRU and only leave late at night. At a minimum, those planes are sitting on the ground in Brazil for 10 to 12 hours completely idle. It should be easy for US airlines to establish local relationships with cleaning companies at a very low cost (exchange rate and labor costs are very advantageous for US airlines in Brazil) and have those planes deeply cleaned while there.
I have heard airline supervisors tell the contract cleaning crews to not do all the required cleaning on a late arrival on order to get an on time departure.
Oh this is absolutely true: on AA if a flight is running late, you can bet they will inform the cleaning crews not to clean the last several roles of a full A321. That just happened to me on a late evening CLT-FLL; I sat on the 32nd row and crumbs were everywhere. Clearly not cleaned at all.
Passengers are expected to eat and sleep in a space with less cleaning than a dog kennel. Vermin establish quickly and become more difficult to eradicate. If a ” few small cockroaches ” are found it’s likely a full on infestation.
Jeez I just couldn’t bring myself to fly AI, regardless of best routing, cabin class or price. I wish them well with their rebranding and outfitting of cabins, but gosh it’s a hard no for me.
There hasn’t been a good India v Pakistan nationalistic battle royale in the comments here in a while. You should have said something like, “as a comparison, on this particular day, no cockroaches were found onboard PIA.” That might have done it.
I do not think I have been on a plane where I have not seen crubs,dirt,dust and WHo knows whatever else!!
I love the ” crubs” excellent description of the floor findings!
This is a true 50/50 situation. Obviously people from India are inherently dirty from bathing in rivers they use as toilets, that is well know by everyone. But the ground employees in San Fran aren’t exactly clean either. So without DNA on the cockroaches to find their region of origin it’s anyone’s guess.
My guess? The roaches have been there for generations. It takes more than a deep clean and pesticides to evict them..
I don’t condone Air India one bit, and feel they are a disgrace to the country. But your comments show tremendous racial undertones. Exactly what is so clean about hillbilly country, my friend? You and your son of a klansman commander in chief are bringing your nation into disrepute with your racism.
“don’t treat your aircraft like a trash bin”
Well, much of the population in India treats their own neighborhoods and cities like trash bins. So what do you expect from their airline?
Maybe a new concept for airlines. Self service snacks, if you can catch them
“Deep cleaning” and “Air India” are mutually exclusive things. If it’s not rats it’s cockroaches. What a foul airline.