Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi

New Delhi, Feb 22: Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has criticized Air India for assigning him a broken seat on a Bhopal-Delhi flight, reigniting concerns over the airline’s service quality. He noted that several other seats were in similar condition, adding to the growing number of complaints against the Tata-owned carrier.

Chouhan’s grievance follows a series of incidents highlighting Air India’s shortcomings. A New York-bound passenger found a cockroach in her meal, leading to food poisoning. Indian hockey star Rani Rampal’s luggage was mishandled, while CEO Anip Patel, despite paying Rs 5.27 lakh for first class, faced service issues and was later refunded.

Grammy-winner Ricky Kej was downgraded from business to economy without explanation, and another passenger’s business-class seat was reassigned to a pilot. A food vlogger also slammed the airline for poor food and damaged seats.

Despite Air India’s apologies and promises of improvement, passengers continue to report service failures. Industry experts say operational challenges persist despite efforts to revamp the airline’s image. With mounting criticism, Air India remains under scrutiny, raising calls for stricter regulations and better quality control.