Flight Returns After 10 Hours As 9 out of All 10 Toilets Are Clogged
On March 5, local time, an Air India flight faced an unexpected ordeal when it was forced to turn back nearly 10 hours into its journey due to a severe sanitation issue.
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According to radar tracking data from FlightAware, Air India flight 126 departed from Chicago O'Hare International Airport at 10:59 AM Central Time and took off at 11:25 AM, heading toward Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi. However, while flying over Greenland, the aircraft abruptly turned around and eventually landed back in Chicago at 9:08 PM the same day. In total, the flight spent almost 10 hours in the air, only to return to its origin.
Cause of the Turnaround: Clogged Toilets
Reports from The New York Post and other sources revealed that the reason behind this unusual return was not mechanical failure but a severe plumbing issue.
The aircraft, a Boeing 777-300ER, originally had 10 to 12 lavatories to accommodate more than 300 passengers. However, less than five hours into the flight, 9 to 11 of these lavatories became clogged, leaving just one operational restroom in the business class section. This made it impossible to continue the journey to New Delhi, which would have required over 14 hours of flight time.
Aircraft Model and Configuration
The incident aircraft was a Boeing 777-300ER, a model that Air India operates in two configurations:
The Boeing 777-300ER V.1, which features 12 lavatories and 345 seats.
The Boeing 777-300ER V.2, which has 10 lavatories and 328 seats.
The exact variant involved in the incident remains unknown.
Situation on the Ground & Passenger Compensation
Upon landing back at O'Hare International Airport, only two Air India crew members were available to manage and pacify over 300 frustrated passengers. Reports suggest that Delta Air Lines staff, sympathetic to their Air India counterparts, voluntarily stepped in to assist.
The aircraft remained grounded for two days while extensive cleaning and sanitation procedures were conducted before it was cleared for departure again.
Air India has promised a full refund to affected passengers. However, some travelers reported that customer service representatives were unaware of the refund policy, leaving many frustrated. Several passengers had their travel plans severely disrupted, with some missing important family events, such as weddings, in India.
Source: 红星新闻
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