Air India forced to turn around after toilets blocked with bags and clothes

An Air India flight from Chicago to Delhi was forced to turn around on Wednesday after passengers clogged lavatories with plastic bags, rags and clothes.

The Boeing 777-300ER, carrying about 300 passengers, had been in the air for an hour and 45 minutes when the crew found that eight out of 12 lavatories were blocked and could not be used.

Air India said an investigation later found “polythene bags, rags and clothes” stuffed down the lavatories and appealed to passengers to use them “only for the purposes that they are meant for”.

It said the incident was not isolated, explaining that “blankets, inner wear, and diapers, among other waste” have been found clogging the lavatories on previous flights.

A spokesman said: “We would like to confirm that as part of our investigation into the incident, our teams found polythene bags, rags and clothes that had been flushed down and stuck in the plumbing. This led the lavatories to become unserviceable.”

Photos from the flight showed plastic waste rammed down a lavatory and a crew member holding a drainage pipe stuffed with rags.

Flight diverted ‘without notice’

One man who claimed to be on the flight wrote on social media: “Apparently, the crew knew about it but decided to take off. Then the captain did not announce that the flight was returning back. Some passengers noticed it on the screen flight map and raised the issue.”

Another commenter said such incidents were not unusual, writing: “My mum once flew from New York to Delhi on an Air India plane that was leaking toilet water into the aisle. So yes, this is normal.”

Ajay Awtaney, an Indian journalist, said it “could also be a reflection of the people who flush stuff down the toilets that should ideally be in the trash”.

Air India described the incident as “embarrassing” and said its decision to divert the flight back to Chicago O’Hare International Airport was taken in the interests of passenger comfort and safety.

It added that it had helped passengers with hotel accommodation and alternative flight arrangements so they could continue their travel to Delhi.

“Who do we blame? Airline, passengers, or just a complete disregard in civil society for basic hygiene?” a spokesman asked.