Air India denies report of a lizard in its in-flight meal Published duration 13 June 2015

image copyright AFP image caption Loss-making Air India has recently been hit by a string of issues, including safety concerns and financial pressures

Air India has insisted that there is "absolutely no truth" in reports that a lizard was found in an in-flight meal on a Delhi-London flight on Thursday.

Its denial follows the publication of a picture on social media which purportedly shows the reptile's head underneath a bun on a meal tray.

It is not clear from the photo if the creature is dead or alive.

The state-owned airline has dismissed the report as a "false and baseless hoax" launched to tarnish its image.

The alleged incident took place when the flight attendants were serving lunch, The Times of India reported.

image copyright Getty Images image caption Air India says that an attempt has been made to tarnish its reputation

"Soon after it was placed on to the tray, the passenger was heard screaming," it quoted a source as saying.

The source said that the lunch was wrapped in cling film and the lizard scurried from underneath a burger.

"The passenger was very upset and said that he would lodge a complaint with the airline on landing," the source was quoted as saying.

But Air India was swift to deny the allegation.

"No such complaint by any passenger of the flight has been received on board the flight or at the Air India office in London," it said in a tweet.

Civil aviation minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju also dismissed the claim, pointing out that no-one had come forward to say that they took the picture since it was posted on social media.

The row comes at a time when the national carrier is battling huge debts which reports say has resulted in delayed payments to its caterers.