The Indian Directorate General of Civil Aviation is probing the incident, which Air India officials said was not an emergency even though there had been a "gaping hole" in the aircraft.

Air India is set to investigate a complaint from a passenger who claimed to have found worms in a sandwich served unto him during an in-flight meal. This was as told by a representative of the airline to BBC. The passenger claimed to have discovered the worms during his/her flight from New York to Delhi last 28th of September. It was among the latest of recent events that troubled India's flagship airline.

A report from 'Times of India' states that one of the company's jet almost fell in mid-air just this last Saturday. The near-fatal-incident had put about one hundred fifty passengers at risk.

India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation was incharge of in the investigation during the jet's mid-air fall, despite the situation not entirely being an emergency as a "gaping hole" was believed to be found on the plane.The aircraft model was a Dreamliner.

Dreamliner aircraft have worldwide been hit hit by numerous technical and safety problems since the first aircraft was displayed in 2009.

Air India's woes as reported by BBC

• Hit hard by rising fuel prices and fierce competition form private carriers
• Has a long history of labour problems and big debts
• Simmering disputes with staff a recurrent issue
• Its 2007 merger with Indian Airlines is still only 70% complete
• Merged company has ongoing problems with pay and career progression disparities
• Some of its big loss-making routes, especially internationally, are being shut down

.A spokesperson from Air India disclosed that the incided "involved a leading caterer who supplies all US airlines." The spokeperson further stated that the food came from the United States (where the flight took off) and not from India. "We have already taken suitable action against the caterer," accorded the Air India's media representative. The incident has been regarded as 'very rare' by the company and that caterers usually have standard operating policies to ensure sanitary handling of food. A "full investigation" is under way regarding the sandwich incident.

Its not just the food that had warranted Air India unwanted publicity. It has been recently plagued by incidents concerning safety issues. Last May, one pilot was locked out of the cockpit while on his washroom reak. The pilot after his break went back to the cockpit but unable to enter due to a faulty door.

Mumbai Mirror also reported that a flight steward accidently switched off the jet's auto-pilot during the pilots' break.