Air India flight AI180 from San Francisco to Mumbai, operated by a Boeing 777, faced a hygiene scare when two passengers spotted small cockroaches on board during the international leg via Kolkata on Sunday, August 3, 2025. The cabin crew promptly relocated the affected passengers to other seats within the same cabin, ensuring their comfort, while a deep cleaning was conducted during the scheduled fuel stop at Kolkata’s Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport, allowing the flight to depart on time for Mumbai. The airline issued an apology and launched a comprehensive investigation to identify the cause and prevent future incidents.

“On flight AI180, two passengers were unfortunately bothered by a few small cockroaches. Our cabin crew relocated them to other seats, where they were comfortable thereafter,” an Air India spokesperson said. “Despite regular fumigation efforts, insects can sometimes enter aircraft during ground operations.” The deep cleaning in Kolkata involved fumigation and sanitation of the cabin, but the exact number of passengers affected or on board was not disclosed. Flightradar24.com data shows AI180 departed San Francisco at 8:30 p.m. PDT, landed in Kolkata at 2:00 a.m. IST, and reached Mumbai by 5:30 a.m. IST.

This incident follows a pattern of hygiene issues for Air India. In September 2024, a passenger on a Delhi–New York flight found a cockroach in her omelette, leading to food poisoning for her and her toddler, while a June 2024 Bengaluru–San Francisco flight reported a blade-like object in a meal. Social media on X, under hashtags like #AirIndiaHygiene and #AI180, erupted with criticism, with users questioning maintenance standards.

One post read, “Cockroaches on a long-haul flight? Air India needs to step up!” The airline’s 2024 merger with Vistara and a fleet of 300 aircraft have not stemmed recurring issues, with the DGCA noting 263 safety lapses in 2024 audits. Air India’s probe aims to address these concerns amid India’s growing aviation market, projected to serve 300 million passengers by 2030.

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