Tue Mar 11 06:07:30 UTC 2025: ## Air India Flight Returns to Chicago After Lavatory Blockages
**Chicago, IL –** An Air India flight from Chicago to Delhi (AI126) made an unexpected return to O’Hare International Airport on March 5th after eight of its twelve lavatories became unusable due to passenger-caused blockages. Approximately two hours into the flight, over Greenland, flight attendants reported multiple malfunctions in both Business and Economy class restrooms.
A subsequent investigation revealed that passengers had flushed inappropriate items down the toilets, including polythene bags, rags, and clothing, causing significant blockages in the plumbing system. While the aircraft could have diverted to European airports, restrictions on night operations led to the decision to return to Chicago.
Air India expressed empathy for the passengers, whose travel plans were disrupted. The airline provided hotel accommodations and rebooked passengers on new flights to Delhi. This incident follows a recent security scare on another Air India flight where a written bomb threat, later determined to be a hoax, was found in a lavatory. The airline did not comment further on the specific measures it will put in place to prevent future occurrences of this kind.
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