Passengers on an Air India flight from Chicago to Delhi experienced a 10-hour journey to nowhere as the aircraft returned to the U.S. city after 10 hours due to clogged lavatories, reports indicate.
The airline confirmed that flight AI126 needed to return to Chicago O’Hare International Airport due to a “technical issue” with the aircraft. It noted that all passengers and crew exited normally.
“AI126, operating Chicago to Delhi on 6 March 2025, air-returned to Chicago due to a technical issue. Upon landing at Chicago, all passengers and crew disembarked normally and have been provided with accommodation to minimise inconvenience. Alternative arrangements are being made to fly the passengers to their destination,” said the airline.
However, an individual aware about the situation stated that the choice to return was made when nine out of the 10 restrooms on the Boeing 777-300 ER aircraft were clogged. “The individual mentioned that just one of the lavatories in business class was operational.”
According to Flightradar24, a flight tracking website, the airplane changed direction roughly four hours and 25 minutes into the flight, just after it had crossed Greenland’s coast. The flight took off from Chicago at 11 AM on Wednesday and returned around 9 PM.
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The travelers on board had to withstand a 10-hour journey to nowhere.
The airplane can accommodate 342 passengers, which comprises 303 economy class seats. The airline announced that it provided complete refunds for cancellations and free rescheduling to travelers.
Airplane restrooms frequently become blocked, typically when travelers dispose of prohibited items. As observed previously, just one or two inoperable toilets can suffice for a flight crew to return, given the restricted restroom access.
