This was a crappy flight.
Passengers aboard an Air India flight to Delhi endured a 10-hour trip to nowhere when their plane was forced to circle back to Chicago because most of the toilets became clogged and inoperable.
Air India Flight 126 was making its way over Greenland on March 5 when 8 out of its 12 toilets broke down passenders flushed bags and rags down the lavatories, the airline told The Post.
The extended pee-pee dance began nearly five hours into the 14 hour trip, according to the FlightAware tracker, forcing the Boeing 777-300ER to head back to Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport.
An Air India flight bound for Delhi had to turn around nearly five hours into its trip following mass toilet clogging. FlightAware
Passengers said 11 out of the 12 toilets on board broke down and became inoperable. NurPhoto via Getty Images“Upon landing at Chicago, all passengers and crew disembarked normally and have been provided with accommodation to minimize inconvenience,” the company said in a statement, citing only a “technical issue.”
“Alternative arrangements are being made to fly the passengers to their destination,” the airliner added.
The airline noted that due to nighttime restrictions at most European airports at the time, it could not divert the flight, making a return trip to Chicago the only viable option.
An investigation over the incident found that “found polythene bags, rags, and clothes that had been flushed down and stuck in the plumbing,” the airliner added.
Air India said that it would offer refunds for the cancellation, but that was little relief to some customers — who claimed they were forced to jump through hoops to get their flights rescheduled or refunded.
The plane was forced to fly five hours back to land at the Chicago O’Hare International Airport. AFP via Getty ImagesOne customer said they had booked a first class ticket for their cousin to fly for a wedding in India using the rewards program Lifemiles via the Colombian carrier Avianca, View From The Wing reported.
“We’re now in the midst of customer service hell with Avianca, Lifemiles and Air India to figure out how to get a refund for the miles ticket,” the frustrated client told the outlet.
It’s not uncommon for airplane toilets to get clogged, with the issue typically bubbling up when passengers flush unauthorized items down the pipes.
Air India said it has encountered such incidents on previous flights, finding “objects such as blankets, innerwear, and diapers, among other waste” flushed down the toilets.
Even just one or two clogged toilets is enough to trigger a flight crew to turn the plane around and land due to the limited number of lavatories available.
