An Air India passenger recently shared a horrifying experience of finding a sharp metal blade inside the meal provided on a flight. The incident sparked concern and prompted the Tata-owned airline to issue a statement addressing the situation.
Air India’s Chief Customer Experience Officer, Rajesh Dogra, clarified the controversy surrounding the presence of the metal blade. He explained that the foreign object originated from a vegetable processing machine used to cut raw vegetables at the catering partner’s facilities. The company has taken action to prevent similar occurrences in the future by increasing the frequency of inspections for the processor, particularly after chopping any hard vegetables.
“Air India confirms that a foreign object was found in the meal of a guest aboard one of our flights. After investigation, it has been identified as coming from the vegetable processing machine used at the facilities of our catering partner. We have worked with our catering partner to strengthen measures to prevent any recurrence, including more frequent checking of the processor especially after chopping of any hard vegetable,” ANI quoted Rajesh Dogra.
The incident came to light when a social media user, Mathurs Paul, shared his harrowing experience on X (formerly Twitter). Paul described how he consumed the food, unknowingly containing the sharp blade, and only realized its presence after chewing a few times.
“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?,” wrote Paul on X.
This incident highlights the importance of rigorous food safety measures in the aviation industry. Air India’s swift response and proactive steps to address the issue demonstrate their commitment to passenger safety and ensuring a positive customer experience.
