Toilets clogged on Air India (25% owned by SIA) flight. Forced to return to departure airport hours after takeoff

[Rogue Trader]

Air India flight from Chicago to New Delhi returns hours into journey after rags, clothes and plastic bags clog toilets​

By Karina Tsui and Esha Mitra, CNN
Updated 7:11 AM EDT, Tue March 11, 2025

Urbanandsport/NurPhoto/Shutterstock
Two Air India aircraft on the tarmac on December 6, 2023.
CNN —
An Air India flight from Chicago to New Delhi last Wednesday was forced to return several hours into its journey after multiple bathrooms on the plane were clogged with rags, clothes and plastic bags, according to the airline.

The flight, Air India AI126, was five hours into its journey, when it was forced to turn around, according to flight tracking website FlightAware.

Crew were first notified that some of the toilets were out of order an hour and 45 minutes into the flight. They later on determined that eight of 12 lavatories were “unserviceable,” “causing discomfort to all on board,” a spokesperson for Air India said in a statement to CNN.

A subsequent investigation into the incident revealed that “polythene bags, rags, and clothes” among other items had been flushed down the lavatories and “stuck in the plumbing,” the statement read.

The situation unfolded as the plane, a Boeing 777-300ER, was over the Atlantic, but because of restrictions on nightly operations at European airports, a decision was made to return to Chicago.

“The decision to divert was taken entirely in the interest of passenger comfort and safety,” the spokesperson said.

Data on FlightAware shows that the plane’s total journey was roughly 10 hours and that it turned around over Greenland.

Once in Chicago, passengers were provided with hotel accommodation and alternative flight routes, the company said.

The spokesperson noted that this wasn’t the first time foreign objects were found on Air India toilets –– “blankets, innerwear, and diapers, among other waste have been flushed down toilets on other flights.”

 

[Rogue Trader]

Very soon SIA will be renamed SAI

 

[True Believer]

Anybody with even 1/2 a brain will know that rags, plastic bags and clothing cannot be flushed down the toilet without choking it. It looks like these CECAs may not even possess a brain. The irony is that there are 650,000 of them in S'pore, with at least 200,000 possibly denying S'porean PMEs of a white collar job. The govt has committed treason.

 

[Rogue Trader]

This is how Indians depose trash on their trains today

 

[k1976]

Anybody with even 1/2 a brain will know that rags, plastic bags and clothing cannot be flushed down the toilet without choking it. It looks like these CECAs may not even possess a brain. The irony is that there are 650,000 of them in S'pore, with at least 200,000 possibly denying S'porean PMEs of a white collar job. The govt has committed treason.

All are talents Lai de woh

 

[k1976]

 

[k1976]

 

[True Believer]

This is how Indians depose trash on their trains today

It wasn't that long ago when urine and faeces from toilets on Malayan Railway were dumped directly onto the tracks.

 

[True Believer]

I am not surprised that garbage from trains fall onto the tracks in India when
travelling at full speed. Not all these shit pricks will be able to hold on tightly.

 

[Rogue Trader]

It wasn't that long ago when urine and faeces from toilets on Malayan Railway were dumped directly onto the tracks.

Dumping human waste off a passenger craft is normal. Ships and planes do it (blue ice).

Chucking rubbish out of the moving train is subhuman behaviour

 

[Loofydralb]

Why they didn't investigate and charge the culprit?

 

[bobby]

I am surprised that the CECAs even know how to use a flushing toilet

 

[laksaboy]

Bring to Changi Airport and convert that shit to biofuel. It's the sustainable way.

 

[Eisenhut]

Aiyo xia suay to max

 

[True Believer]

Dumping human waste off a passenger craft is normal. Ships and planes do it (blue ice). Chucking rubbish out of the moving train is subhuman behaviour

When I was a teenager, I recall that Malayan Railway passengers could see the tracks from the toilet bowl. Urine, faeces and toilet paper were thrown into the toilet, and went directly onto the tracks. Toilets were locked when trains stopped at the station so that the human waste wouldn't stink up the surroundings.

 

[True Believer]

I am surprised that the CECAs even know how to use a flushing toilet

The CECAs may have used the clothing and rags to wipe their bum and tried to flush them away. The plastic bags were probably used when they wanted to pass urine/motion at their seats.