New Delhi – A disturbing incident has surfaced on social media, where a mother found a cockroach in the meal served to her 2-year-old daughter on an Air India flight. The flight, AI 101, was en route from Delhi to New York on September 17 when the child’s mother discovered the cockroach in the half-eaten omelet. The mother took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to share photos and a video of the contaminated meal, raising serious concerns about the airline’s food safety standards.
According to the mother, her daughter had already eaten most of the omelet when she spotted the cockroach. Shortly after, the child began showing symptoms of food poisoning. The mother, visibly distressed, tagged Air India, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), and the Indian Civil Aviation Minister in her post, seeking action on the matter.
The photos shared by the mother clearly show the insect near the partially eaten meal, causing outrage among social media users, many of whom expressed their concerns over hygiene and safety in airline catering services.
Air India’s Response
In response to the viral post, an Air India spokesperson issued a statement acknowledging the customer’s complaint and stated that the airline is in touch with the catering service provider responsible for the meal. The airline emphasized that they take such incidents seriously and have initiated an investigation into the matter.
“Air India follows stringent food safety checks and works with globally renowned catering companies to ensure the quality of meals served on board. Steps will be taken to prevent any recurrence of such incidents in the future,” the spokesperson added.
Despite the airline’s response, the incident has sparked a broader discussion about the quality of in-flight meals and food safety protocols, especially when it comes to long-haul international flights.
Found a cockroach in the omelette served to me on the @airindia flight from Delhi to New York. My 2 year old finished more than half of it with me when we found this. Suffered from food poisoning as a result. @DGCAIndia @RamMNK pic.twitter.com/1Eyc3wt3Xw
— Suyesha Savant (@suyeshasavant) September 28, 2024
Concerns Over Airline Food Safety
The discovery of the cockroach has raised concerns about the hygiene practices in airline catering services. Frequent flyers and passengers voiced their frustration, demanding stricter inspections and oversight of food served on airplanes. Air India’s reputation has come under scrutiny, with many calling for better food handling practices and quality checks to avoid such alarming incidents.
The child’s mother has yet to confirm if she received any formal response or compensation from the airline for the distress caused. However, the images of the contaminated meal continue to circulate online, drawing attention to the importance of food safety in the airline industry.