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Madras HC imposes ?35,000 fine on Air India for hair in in-flight meal
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Friday, 24 October, 2025, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
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Abhitash Singh, Mumbai
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In a strong message to the aviation catering industry regarding food safety and hygiene, the Madras High Court has directed Air India to pay ?35,000 to a passenger who found a strand of hair in an in-flight meal.
Justice P.B. Balaji, while ruling on the appeal filed by Air India, affirmed the airline's negligence and its "vicarious liability" for the lapse, even though the food was prepared by an external caterer. The court rejected the airline’s argument that liability should be shifted to its catering partner, Ambassador Pallava Hotel, stating that the passenger’s contract for the service was solely with Air India.
The incident dates back to a Colombo-Chennai flight where the passenger, P. Sundaraparipooranam, found hair in a sealed food packet, leading to nausea and discomfort. The passenger had originally sought ?11 lakh in damages, and a lower court had awarded ?1 lakh.
While the High Court reduced the final payment to ?35,000 (covering court costs and counsel fees) due to a lack of medical evidence proving sustained injury, it firmly established Air India's accountability for the hygiene breach.
Justice Balaji further criticized Air India's defense, noting the airline’s "mischievous attempt" to pass on liability, a finding that underscores the need for airlines to maintain stringent quality control and take full responsibility for all services provided under the contract of carriage. This ruling reinforces the critical importance of hygiene protocols for all F&B suppliers in the aviation sector.
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