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,

Air India Flight 126 from Chicago to Delhi was forced to return to its departure location after passengers clogged the toilets with bags and rags, delaying the journey.

Passengers on Air India flight AI126 from Chicago to Delhi faced a 10-hour ordeal as the aircraft returned to Chicago due to inoperative lavatories. Only one of ten lavatories was functional, prompting the mid-air turnaround.

We are aware of some social media posts about the unserviceable lavatories on AI126 operating Chicago to Delhi on 05 March 2025 that caused the flight’s diversion back to its origin, Chicago O’Hare International Airport.

An Air India flight from Chicago to Delhi was forced to return to O'Hare Airport on March 5 after the majority of its toilets became clogged mid-flight.

Passengers on an Air India flight bound for Delhi had to return to Chicago after the pilot was forced to make an emergency U-turn reportedly due to clogged toilets, according to news agency ANI. ANI cited a spokesperson saying that alternative arrangements were made for the passengers who were stuck on the flight for 10 hours.

The aircraft cited its internal investigation based on objects found by maintenance crews who discovered the objects in the aircraft’s plumbing system

A statement from the airlines said eight out of 12 of its toilets became “unserviceable” and the flight had to return to Chicago.