Passengers on an American Airlines flight from India on Monday were treated to lavatories overflowing with sewage. American blames the incident on a clogged toilet.
Lavatory Malfunctions On American Airlines Flight From India
On Monday, January 29, 2024, a clog in a lavatory toilet led to four lavatories backing up and overflowing, sending toxic liquid and fumes through the passenger cabin. The incident occurred on AA293 from New Delhi (DEL) to New York (JFK). The flight was operated by a Boeing 777-300ER .
To address the overflowing, flight attendants laid blankets outside the lavatory doors to soak up the biohazardous waste.
Passengers were outraged…not only at what happened but how AA responded:
Nightmare on @AmericanAir AA 293 from Delhi to New York, Jan 29, 2024. 4 lavatories flooded with sewage in front of my seat. 10+ hrs of trauma in this appalling situation. Complaints met with generic response. Unacceptable hygiene standards. #AmericanAirlines #PassengerNightmare pic.twitter.com/V5eP5y3Yb5
— Anmol Kaushik (@AnmolKa96446669) January 30, 2024
But who should the outrage be directed toward? American Airlines strongly suggests that it wasn’t faulty plumbing or an aging plane or a technical fault that caused the lavatory malfunctions.
Instead it all stemmed from a toilet clog.
If you ever look closely at the lavatory toilet you’ll see graphics like this:
It’s not rocket science to deduce that flushing diapers or tampons down aircraft toilets is a pretty stupid idea.
While it is possible that the plumbing just self-destructed, the more likely explanation is that a passenger went in there and flushed something down the toilet.
Frankly, I think the rather crude blanket solution beat diverting the flight….I don’t know, I wasn’t there to smell it, but delaying everyone onboard would probably have been an overreaction.
Whatever plumbing issue needed addressing has been addressed and the aircraft is now back in service.
Warning: flush toilet paper and only toilet paper down airplane toilets.
(image: @AnmolKa96446669 / X // Hat Tip: View From The Wing)
The fault is likely with a passenger that flushed paper and who knows what else down the toilet, which, as you correctly point out, is made clear in all aircraft lavatories, is not something one should do. The aircraft’s age has nothing to do with it. The 77W fleet of 20 frames are from deliveries that began in 2012 and ended in 2013 or 2014.
That would never happen on Delta. Delta, a for profit company, delivers a premium experience to all passengers, on every flight.
Why is there coffee in that sink
Smell control?
The toilet in the passenger’s photo doesn’t look blocked.
How does supposed bio waste water like that get in the sink?
Twitter user signs up to make one post about it to complain… I somewhat understand a need to do this to communicate and gain traction with AA support, but I am still slightly suss.
If 4 lavs were blocked on a LH flight like this, and they put blankets down as indicated, and this water was bio waste leaking out, the PIC would have diverted. 100%.
Fake – unsubstantiated – news. JIMO
I should correct myself – twitter user signs up in 2021. Following 4 ppl currently.
No, American Airlines confirmed this occured.
Gotcha – thanks for the correction.
What a disaster of a flight if you happened to be the guy filming that video. Ouch.
10+ hours remaining flight time according to the post. Should have diverted to LHR. Flight track for AA 293 on 29-Jan took it right over northern UK. Lots of AA / BA options for re-accommodating pax at there.
AA: merely extending the Delhi experience for the passengers.
Good use for leftover Covid masks with Vicks Vapor rub
Thinking: TURBULENCE. AAAHHHHH!
“…. lavatories backing up … overflowing, … toxic liquid … fumes through … passenger cabin …”, “… laid blankets … to soak up the biohazardous waste …”, “… delaying everyone onboard would probably have been an overreaction …”: Sorry Matthew but your judgement in this case is completely wrong, on a par with COVID vaccination opposition and (automobile) seat belt opposition. Doubtful you would have defended Alaska Air pilots flying to their destination after a door plug popped out, heck, it only caused a little wind in the cabin. Toxic biohazardous waste DEMANDS expeditious remedy, even if it means delaying people for a few hours or a day. Assigning blame misses the point entirely, doesn’t make a difference WHO is at fault, pilots and AA have an obligation to mitigate any and all hazards including toxic waste or a door plug popping out or an engine fire …
“… merely extending the Delhi experience for passengers …”: Good point. A (? the) main public health concern in India is toilet use. It may be better now but (years ago) “…. many Indians with toilets prefer open defecation, 74% of those say it is “pleasurable, comfortable, or convenient” to defecate in the open.” There are many places to visit repetitively, India is NOT one of them.