Residents near Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi are complaining of human waste dropping from the heavens. Many are fingering airlines as the culprit…
A great debate has arisen whether it is bird poop or human waste.
I’d think that would be self-apparent, but…
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has asked a special committee, which will include representatives from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Central Avian Research Institute and Central Pollution Control Board, to collect samples of the alleged poop falling from the sky in areas near the Delhi airport.
Should any airline be found to have dumped poop, the fine is 50,000 Rupees (about $777USD) per accident. Inspectors also plan to start inspecting aircraft septic tanks just after landing to ensure they are full.
This is no laughing matter.
A 60-year-old woman suffered a shoulder injury in December last year probably caused by human excreta falling from the skies.
In that case, a “football-sized chunk of ice fell on her from the sky.” Authorities never investigated.
Let’s sit down for a moment. When you flush on an airplane, the waste is not dumped in the sky. Per the FAA—
The aircrew cannot dump the wastewater in flight because the waste valve is located on the exterior of the aircraft and only ground crew can operate valve.
If it is any consolation, this is likely not a deliberate move. Nevertheless, it is still possible for human waste to be excreted from the plane.
Occasionally, the holding tank or drain tube develops a leak. If this happens at high altitudes, the water will freeze once it hits outside air.
This is called “blue ice” because airlines use a chemical called Anotec to neutralize odors and clump together waste. Sometimes it leaks out, freezes, then falls to the ground as a chunk of ice.
I’ll keep you updated on this juicy story. Talk about a s— storm.
I spent some time recently in Delhi and it is definitely the most polluted area in the world. We were lucky getting out as many airlines had delayed or canceled flights when the smog got so bad in addition to the work going on in regard to the third dodgy runway.