Nothing seems to go right for Air India as the debt-ridden national carrier is now accused of providing seats infected with bed bugs to its business class passengers on Newark-Mumbai 17-hour flight. Undoubtedly, this type of incident is a shame for the organization and steps should be taken to ensure that it doesn’t happen again.
Pravin Tonsekar who took Air India flight for Mumbai from Newark Liberty International Airport with his family tweeted, “@airindiain @sureshpprabhu @narendramodi_in Suresh Prabhuji – just arrived from New York on Air India 144 business class with family . All our seats infested with bed bugs. Sir, have heard of bed bugs on trains but shocked to experience on our maharaja and that too business.”
@airindiain @sureshpprabhu @narendramodi_in Suresh Prabhuji – just arrived from New York on Air India 144 business class with family . All our seats infested with bed bugs . Sir , have heard of bed bugs on trains but shocked to experience on our maharaja and that too business pic.twitter.com/m2GnfOpTO3
— Pravin Tonsekar (@pat_tons) July 17, 2018
He also posted the photos of the business class seats and bed bugs were clearly seen in the photo. To this, Air India responded, “We are sorry to hear this, Mr. Pravin. Sharing the details with our maintenance team for corrective measures in this regard.”
We are sorry to hear this, Mr. Pravin. Sharing the details with our maintenance team for corrective measures in this regard.
— Air India (@airindia) July 17, 2018
Obviously, this didn’t help much and he went on to tweet, “Too late !!! Such a thing should not have happened in the first place . My wife and daughters had to suffer half of the journey sitting in economy seats with broken tables and inoperative TV.”
Too late !!! Such a thing should not have happened in the first place . My wife and daughters had to suffer half of the journey sitting in economy seats with broken tables and inoperative TV
— Pravin Tonsekar (@pat_tons) July 17, 2018
As per a report in Hindustan Times, there was one more passenger Vivek Modi who complained of bed bugs.
On July 19, one more passenger complained about the bed bugs and tweeted “@airindiain my wife and three kids flex business class AI 144 from Newark to mumbai; now they have bed bug bites all over their body; is this is what we paid $10,000 for???”
@airindiain my wife and three kids flex business class AI 144 from Newark to mumbai; now they have bed bug bites all over their body; is this is what we paid $10,000 for???
— Rohan (@roscrow) July 19, 2018
Air India did replied to him as well, “Your safety and pax comfort is paramount for #AirIndia. Inquiry was ordered on the same day, and responsibility will be fixed. We feel your pain and empathise also. We assure you that we will allow no one to jeopardise safety and comfort of pax.”
However, this was not the end and a third complaint was made by Saumya Shetty who not only complained but also showed what Air India business class does to her.
She wrote, “What an #airindia #businessclass would do to you? AI still has to get in touch with me in spite if my repeated attempts to get in touch with them. @airindiain @NewYorkTimes11 @cnni”
https://twitter.com/saumshetty/status/1020295314878750721
Her sister also complained about it and expressed her agony over what the woman had to go through, especially when she was with kids of 6 months, 3 yrs and 6 yrs.
https://twitter.com/SaunnaK/status/1020988455780855808
The planes have been grounded and sent for fumigation.
What steps according to you should Air India take to clear its image once again?