Journalist discovers stone in Air India meal on New York-Delhi flight after 'pee gate' row

Tata-owned airline Air India has been going through a turbulent situation owing to several controversial occurrences. On 26 November last year, an unacceptable event transpired inside an Air India New York-Delhi flight as an inebriated passenger named Shankar Mishra allegedly urinated on an elderly woman. While the chapter has not been closed yet, questions were raised on the quality of food offered by the airline. A BBC journalist named Sarvapriya Sangwan found a small pebble in her meal while travelling on Air India flight 215. She brought the event to light with a post on Twitter and termed this kind of negligence “unacceptable.”

You don’t need resources and money to ensure stone-free food Air India (@airindiain). This is what I received in my food served in the flight AI 215 today. Crew member Ms. Jadon was informed.
This kind of negligence is unacceptable. #airIndia pic.twitter.com/L3lGxgrVbz

— Sarvapriya Sangwan (@DrSarvapriya) January 8, 2023

Sangwan immediately captured an image of the piece of stone she discovered in her food. As soon as she found the unexpected object, she raised her objection to one of the crew members Ms Jadon. She attached the photo to her post and vented out her frustration by noting, “You don’t need resources and money to ensure stone-free food, Air India. This is what I received in my food served on flight AI 215 today. Crew member Ms Jadon was informed.”

Soon after the post surfaced on the internet, Air India was quick to respond to it. In the reply, the aviation company pledged to discuss the matter with their respective catering team. “Please allow us some time to get back. We appreciate you bringing this to our notice,” they added further.

Dear Ma’am, this is concerning and we’re taking this up immediately with our Catering team. Please allow us some time to get back. We appreciate you brining this to our notice.

— Air India (@airindiain) January 8, 2023

Social media users were left fumed at the irresponsible act. While some mentioned the safety concerns, others suggested the journalist lodge a legal complaint to the consumer forum. A number of people also dropped sarcastic comments referring to Air India-related previous controversies.

A person found no words except “horrific” to describe the occurrence and wrote, “Air India should take action to responsible authorities.”

Horrible,
Air india should take action to responsible authorities

— Vivek Gupta (@30guptavivek) January 8, 2023

A user quipped, “While Airindia was supposed to compete with the best in the airline industry, it is competing with Indian railways it seems.”

While Airindia was supposed to compete with the best in airlines industry, it is competing with Indian railways it seems.

— Bandhua Majdoor (@iamSKC10) January 10, 2023

According to a person, it was not the first time that this sort of event happened. He revealed, “I had several quality issues with paid food served on Air India flights for which no solution was provided.”

I had several times quality issues with paid food served in Air India Express for which no solution was provided @airindiaexpress @airindiain

— Sharath Shyleandran (@shaadxb1987) January 10, 2023

An individual penned a long comment reminding the company of how “JRD Tata once set standards for the aviation industry as he built Air India into a globally respected brand before the Government took it over.” It further asked, “Now, that you’re back as owners, hitting new lows?”

Dear @TataCompanies:JRD Tata once set standards for the aviation industry. He built #AirIndia into a globally respected brand, before Govt took it over.

Now that you’re back as owners, hitting new lows? Is there no corporate oversight? How do you manage #PeeGate, and now this