Air India Toronto-Delhi flight diverted to Frankfurt due to clogged toilets

NEW DELHI: An Air India aircraft heading from Toronto to Delhi was rerouted to Frankfurt on May 2 due to blocked toilets, according to PTI sources. The airline's official response, reported on Tuesday, indicated a technical fault as the cause of diversion.
PTI sources within the airline revealed that flight AI188's diversion was necessary because several toilets were non-functional.
On May 2, Air India flight AI188's non-stop service from Toronto to Delhi landed in Frankfurt citing technical difficulties. "The flight resumed its journey to Delhi from Frankfurt after approximately two hours," stated the Air India representative.
The service utilised a Boeing 7770-337 (ER) aircraft, according to Flightradar24.com tracking data. The aircraft had been in service for 15.8 years, as documented by Planespotters.net.
A report indicated that Air India faces challenges with long-distance flights due to its ageing fleet and passenger conduct.
This incident marked the second occurrence in under two months where an Air India wide-body aircraft had to alter its course mid-flight due to toilet blockages. Previously, on March 6, flight AI126 travelling from Chicago to Delhi returned after more than 10 hours in the air because of similar issues.
On March 10, Air India released a comprehensive statement regarding the March 6 Chicago-Delhi flight incident.
The crew reported malfunctioning toilets in both Business and Economy sections approximately one hour and forty-five minutes into the journey. "Eventually, eight out of twelve aircraft toilets became non-functional, causing passenger discomfort," stated the airline regarding flight AI126.
The airline subsequently requested passengers to "use lavatories appropriately" and disclosed finding items including blankets, undergarments, and nappies flushed down toilets on various flights.
The majority of wide-body aircraft serving US and Canadian routes are older, leading to recurring plumbing issues. The aged, interconnected pipe system means a single waste tank blockage affects half the aircraft's toilets. Wide-body aircraft typically feature two waste tanks connected to the toilet pipes, the source explained.
Additionally, the certain passengers are seen to carelessly dispose of rubbish in toilets, causing blockages.