Air India confirmed on Monday that its Chicago-to-Delhi flight was forced to return to the US city mid-journey after a majority of the 12 onboard lavatories became inoperative due to severe clogging caused by foreign objects being flushed down the toilets. According to the airline, items such as polythene bags, rags, and clothing were discovered in the lavatory systems, making them unusable and creating significant discomfort for passengers on the long-haul flight.
Initially, reports suggested that 11 out of 12 lavatories were affected, but Air India later clarified that the number was eight. The issue arose around one hour and forty-five minutes into the journey, at which point the aircraft was flying over the Atlantic Ocean. The airline explained that while diverting to a European airport could have been an option, most potential diversion points were under night-time operational restrictions, making it necessary to return to Chicago instead.
The aviation website View From The Wing reported that the aircraft had reached as far as Greenland—over four-and-a-half hours into the journey—before making a U-turn. This meant that the passengers were subjected to an exhausting 10-hour ordeal, with the return journey taking nearly as long as the outbound segment. Many travelers expressed their frustration over the unexpected delay, which resulted in disrupted plans, missed connections, and inconvenience for those with urgent commitments in India.
An Air India spokesperson addressed the incident in an official statement, reiterating the airline’s commitment to passenger safety and comfort. They emphasized that the decision to return mid-flight was taken to ensure that travelers did not have to endure a long journey with inadequate lavatory facilities. The spokesperson also highlighted that similar issues have been encountered on other flights due to improper use of lavatories, with investigations revealing objects such as blankets, innerwear, diapers, and other waste being improperly disposed of in the toilets. The airline urged passengers to follow proper hygiene protocols and use lavatories only for their intended purposes to prevent such disruptions in the future.
This latest incident comes as Air India continues its efforts to modernize its fleet and improve overall passenger experience under the management of the Tata Group. Despite its ambitious plans to enhance service quality, such operational challenges highlight the ongoing difficulties in maintaining smooth and efficient long-haul flight operations. The airline assured affected travelers that necessary assistance was provided and that alternative travel arrangements were made wherever possible to minimize inconvenience. However, the disruption has once again raised concerns over passenger behavior and the need for better awareness regarding responsible usage of onboard facilities to avoid similar setbacks in the future.
