Toilet troubles ground Air India flight: 10-hour journey cut short due to clogged lavatories

🔥🚨BREAKING: An Air India flight was forced to return on a 10 hour trip to Chicago Illinois because their toilets were clogged with poop leaving hundreds Indians trapped on a plane with no restroom.

Air India Flight 126 was making its way over Greenland on March 5 when 11 out… pic.twitter.com/FhPfMBYgzU

— Dom Lucre | Breaker of Narratives (@dom_lucre) March 9, 2025

An Air India flight bound for Chicago, Illinois, was forced to make an unexpected return to its origin after a major lavatory malfunction left passengers with only one working toilet for the entire 10-hour journey. The incident, which occurred on Air India Flight 126, has sparked outrage among passengers and raised questions about in-flight sanitation protocols.

The Boeing 777 was en route over Greenland when crew members discovered that 11 out of the plane’s 12 toilets had become clogged and unusable. The sole functioning lavatory was located in the business class section, leaving nearly 300 economy passengers scrambling for access to basic facilities. According to reports from View From The Wing, the situation quickly became untenable, prompting the flight crew to turn the plane around and head back to its departure point.

Air India has since issued an apology and offered refunds for the canceled flight. However, many passengers expressed frustration over the airline’s handling of the situation, claiming they faced significant hurdles in rescheduling their flights or obtaining refunds. “It was a nightmare,” one passenger told reporters. “Being stuck on a plane for hours with no working toilets is something no one should have to endure.”

Clogged airplane toilets are not uncommon in the aviation industry, often caused by passengers flushing unauthorized items such as wipes, sanitary products, or excessive toilet paper. However, even a single malfunctioning lavatory can force a flight to divert or return, as regulations require a minimum number of functioning toilets for passenger safety and comfort.

This incident highlights the challenges airlines face in maintaining in-flight facilities and the importance of clear communication with passengers during emergencies. Air India has assured customers that it is investigating the cause of the malfunction and taking steps to prevent similar incidents in the future.