NEW DELHI: "We urge passengers to utilize lavatories solely for their intended purposes." On Monday, Air India made this unusual request after yet another incident involving clogged toilets impacted a lengthy flight. Flushing the toilets led to the discovery of polythene bags, rags, and clothing items that had obstructed pipes and caused toilets to overflow.
This issue has been a longstanding concern for Air India, primarily affecting its older Boeing 777 aircraft used for long-haul flights to North America. The latest incident occurred on March 5, when a flight from Chicago to Delhi had to return to the U.S. after eight of the 12 lavatories on the Boeing 777 became inoperative. The airline identified the same cause for the clogged toilets this time as well, prompting them to issue the advisory: "Use lavatories only as they are intended." This means alerting passengers not to flush hand towels, blankets, and plastic bags that can create blockages.
In addition, Air India stated, “We acknowledge the social media discussions regarding the inoperative lavatories on AI126 operating from Chicago to Delhi on March 5, 2025, which led to the flight’s diversion back to Chicago. As part of our inquiry into the incident, our teams found polythene bags, rags, and clothing items that were flushed and got stuck in the plumbing, rendering the lavatories unusable."
"While we fully empathize with passengers who experienced discomfort and whose travel plans were disrupted by the flight’s diversion, we would like to present the following facts about the flight: The flight took off on time at 16:48 Hrs (UTC). Approximately one hour and forty-five minutes into the flight, the crew reported that some lavatories in business and economy class were inoperative. Consequently, eight of the 12 lavatories became inoperative, creating discomfort for all onboard. At this point, the aircraft was flying over the Atlantic, and while European cities could have served as potential diversion points, constraints on night operations at many European airports led to the decision to return to Chicago."
"The choice to divert was made entirely in the interest of passenger comfort and safety. After landing in Chicago, all passengers received immediate support, including hotel accommodation and alternative flight options to complete their journey to Delhi. Although not found on AI126 from March 5, 2025, our teams have previously encountered other instances of items such as blankets, innerwear, and diapers being flushed down toilets on various flights. We take this opportunity to remind passengers to use lavatories exclusively for their designated purposes.”
