By Trend News Line 2024-06-17 11:04:00.
Passenger Finds Metal Blade in Meal on Air India Flight
Passenger discontent with Air India continues as a traveler flying from Bengaluru to San Francisco on June 9 discovered a metal blade in his meal onboard flight AI 175. The passenger was able to spit out the foreign object just in time before it could cause any harm. This incident adds to the recent wave of negative experiences reported by flyers, including long delays and subpar onboard services.
Passenger Shares Shocking Experience
Mathures Paul, the passenger who found the metal blade in his meal, took to social media to express his concerns. He shared, “Air India food can cut like a knife. Hiding in its roasted sweet potato and fig chaat was a metal piece that looked like a blade. I got a feel of it only after chewing the grub for a few seconds. Thankfully, no harm was done. Of course, the blame squarely lies with Air India’s catering service, but the incident doesn’t help the image I have of Air India. What if the metal piece was in the food served to a child?”
Air India Responds to the Incident
Rajesh Dogra, the chief customer experience officer at Air India, confirmed the presence of the foreign object in the passenger’s meal. After conducting an investigation, it was revealed that the metal blade originated from the vegetable processing machine used at the catering partner’s facilities. In response to the incident, Air India has implemented stricter measures to prevent such occurrences in the future, including more frequent checks of the processor, especially after handling hard vegetables.
Challenges Faced by Air India
Global supply chain constraints have led to delays in the planned upgrade of Air India’s aging aircraft interiors. Flight delays have also been a common issue for the airline this summer, with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) recently issuing a show cause notice for delays on two ultra-long-haul flights to San Francisco. Passengers are calling on the airline’s parent company, Tata, to reassess their strategies for Air India’s turnaround.
Passenger Complaints Continue
In another recent incident, a business class passenger on an Air India flight from Delhi to Newark reported receiving “uncooked” food and encountering dirty seats. The passenger, Vineeth K, described the flight as a nightmare, with several seats in the business class cabin being non-functional. Despite booking a premium seat for the journey, Vineeth faced multiple discomforts, including a malfunctioning seat that prevented him from reclining to a flat position for rest.
Regulatory Action Against Air India
The DGCA issued a show cause notice to Air India on May 31, 2024, citing repeated instances of passenger discomfort and non-compliance with aviation regulations. The notice highlighted violations related to facilities provided to passengers during denied boarding, flight cancellations, and delays. Air India has been urged to improve its customer care measures and ensure adherence to aviation rules to avoid further regulatory scrutiny.
Concerns Over Air India’s Turnaround
With mounting dissatisfaction from both employees and passengers, questions have arisen regarding the effectiveness of Air India’s ongoing transformation under Tata’s ownership. The challenging task of reviving the airline, given its state at the time of acquisition, requires a reevaluation of strategies to address customer grievances and enhance operational efficiency..
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