Airborne Crawlies: Cockroaches Discovered on Air India Aircraft from the United States
On August 4, 2025, a disturbing incident occurred on board Air India flight AI180, travelling from San Francisco to Mumbai via Kolkata. Two passengers reported spotting a few small cockroaches crawling in the cabin during the flight[1][2][3].
The affected passengers were promptly relocated to other seats, and the aircraft underwent a deep cleaning and fumigation during the scheduled fuel stop in Kolkata before continuing to Mumbai[1][2][3][4]. The service provider for Air India was involved in the cleaning process.
Air India acknowledged the presence of insects, stating they can enter an aircraft during ground operations, such as ground handling or turnaround activities at airports[1][2][3]. The exact source of the cockroaches on flight AI180 was not specified.
As a preventive measure, Air India has launched a comprehensive investigation to determine the exact cause and source of the infestation and to implement steps to avoid recurrence[1][2][4]. The ground crew in Kolkata conducted a deep cleaning process during the flight's scheduled fuel stop to address the cockroach issue. The same aircraft departed for Mumbai after the cleaning process.
The airline also apologised for any inconvenience caused to the passengers by the cockroach incident. However, no information was provided about the outcome of the investigation or the measures implemented to prevent recurrence.
It is worth noting that this incident occurred during the first leg of the flight, from San Francisco to Kolkata. No information was given about the number of cockroaches or their exact location on the aircraft.
In a separate incident, a Delhi-bound Air India flight from Bhubaneswar was cancelled on Sunday due to "high temperature" in the aircraft cabin before its departure. No connection between the two incidents was mentioned. The resolution or outcome of the cancelled flight is unknown.
Despite this unfortunate incident, Air India remains committed to ensuring the safety and comfort of its passengers. The airline undergoes regular fumigation, but passengers can rest assured that measures are being taken to prevent such incidents in the future.
Traveling on Air India's flight AI180, which was headed from San Francisco to Mumbai via Kolkata, two passengers observed small cockroaches in the cabin during the flight, causing distress[1][2][3]. To address the issue, the aircraft underwent a thorough cleaning and fumigation during the scheduled fuel stop in Kolkata before proceeding to Mumbai[1][2][3][4]. Air India, as a responsible service provider, is conducting a comprehensive investigation to ascertain the root cause of the infestation and to take necessary measures to prevent recurrence[1][2][4].
