Air India flight diverted after passengers clog eight toilets

Eight of the 12 toilets onboard were clogged.

An Air India flight from Chicago to New Delhi was forced to turn back after several of its lavatories became blocked with inappropriate materials, including rags, clothing, and plastic bags. The incident occurred last Wednesday and led to a major inconvenience for passengers and crew alike.

Flight AI126 had been airborne for approximately five hours before the decision was made to return to Chicago, according to flight tracking data from FlightAware.

The issue first became apparent about an hour and 45 minutes into the journey when crew members were alerted to some toilets being out of service.

As the flight continued, the situation worsened, and the airline confirmed that eight of the aircraft’s twelve lavatories were rendered unusable. This created significant discomfort for passengers, prompting an urgent assessment by the crew. A spokesperson for Air India later revealed that an investigation had uncovered a variety of items—such as plastic bags, rags, and pieces of clothing—blocking the aircraft’s plumbing system.

At the time the issue became severe, the Boeing 777-300ER was flying over the Atlantic Ocean. Due to operational restrictions at European airports during night-time hours, the airline opted to return to its departure point rather than attempt a landing elsewhere.

In a statement, Air India confirmed that the decision to turn back was made solely with passenger safety and comfort in mind. Flight data from FlightAware indicates that the entire journey, including the turnaround, lasted approximately ten hours, with the aircraft reversing course near Greenland.

Upon landing in Chicago, affected passengers were offered hotel accommodations and rebooked on alternative flights to ensure they could reach their destinations as soon as possible.

Air India has not disclosed whether any further action will be taken regarding the incident.