Air India Flight Diverted Again Due to Clogged Toilets

NEW DELHI, India — An Air India flight traveling from Toronto to Delhi was diverted to Frankfurt on May 2 due to clogged toilets. This is the second such incident for the airline in under two months.

The flight, designated AI188, was approximately six hours into its journey when the crew reported that multiple toilets on board were non-functional. An Air India spokesperson cited a “technical issue” as the reason for the diversion. However, sources within the airline indicated that the issues were due to toilet blockages.

After landing in Frankfurt, the aircraft remained on the ground for about two hours while maintenance crews addressed the plumbing issues. The flight ultimately resumed its journey to Delhi later that same day.

This incident follows another diversion on March 6, when Air India flight AI126 from Chicago was forced to return to O'Hare International Airport after discovering that eight out of twelve toilets were clogged. Crew members found various items, including polythene bags and clothes, obstructing the plumbing.

Air India emphasized that the safety and well-being of its passengers and crew is the airline’s top priority. However, the frequency of these toilet-related incidents has sparked discussions about passenger behavior and the responsibility for keeping lavatories functional.

The aircraft involved in the latest incident is a Boeing 777, which is known to have a limited waste tank system. An industry expert noted that blockages can lead to several toilets becoming unusable if one waste line is affected.

As the airline continues to address these challenges, experts indicate that the issue might stem more from maintenance practices within the airline than passenger behavior. The airline’s commitment to improving conditions on board is essential to avoid recurrence of such irritations in the future.