NEW DELHI- Tata Group-owned Air India (AI) flight from Toronto (YYZ) to Delhi (DEL) was forced to make an unscheduled landing in Frankfurt (FRA) after 5 toilets aboard the aircraft became inoperable.
The flight had originally departed Toronto’s Pearson International Airport (YYZ) at 6:14 PM local time on May 2, 2025, and ultimately reached Delhi (DEL) on the evening of May 3 following the unplanned stop. This incident marked the second such incident for the airline in less than 2 months, HT reported.
Air India Flight Diverted
Flight AI188, operating using a Boeing 777 aircraft, diverted to Frankfurt (FRA), Germany, approximately 6 hours after departure when the crew determined that nearly half of the aircraft’s lavatory facilities had become unusable.
The May 2 incident left passengers with limited access to restroom facilities during the long-haul international journey.
The aircraft remained grounded in Frankfurt (FRA) while maintenance crews addressed the issue. After resolving the lavatory problems, the flight resumed its journey to Delhi (DEL) following a delay of approximately two hours.
The aircraft involved in the incident is a Boeing 777-300ER, registered as VT-ALQ. Further, it is a 15.7-year-old aircraft powered by GE90 engines.
Air India (AI) acknowledged the diversion in a statement released Monday, though the carrier described the cause only as a “technical issue” without specifically mentioning the toilet malfunctions.
An Air India spokesperson said:
Air India flight AI188 of 02 May 2025, operating non-stop from Toronto to Delhi, was diverted to Frankfurt due to a technical issue. The flight was airborne from Frankfurt within a couple of hours and proceeded to its destination, Delhi.”
Air India Spokesperson told HT
The airline emphasized its commitment to passenger welfare, adding: “We would like to reiterate that at Air India, the safety and well-being of our customers and crew remain top priority.”
This is a recurring issue for Air India, and airline have a limited role to play in it. The passengers are responsible for this as they dump waste in the toilet instead of the garbage bin.
Similar Incident
This disruption comes less than 2 months after another Air India (AI) flight encountered similar problems. In that incident, a Chicago (ORD)-Delhi (DEL) flight returned to O’Hare International Airport (ORD) approximately 10 hours after takeoff when all but one of its lavatories became inoperable.
Following the earlier incident, Air India (AI) attributed the blockages to passengers improperly disposing of items in the toilets, stating that polythene bags, rags, and clothing had been stuffed into the plumbing systems.
A former Air India (AI) official, speaking on condition of anonymity with HT, described lavatory blockages as a “chronic” issue for the airline.
Washrooms largely become unavailable for use because passengers dump rags, diapers, polythene bags, and clothes, clogging them. It could also happen as mineral scaling can curtail plumbing systems. This is because the systems in the aircraft are old.”
The former official explained
The Boeing 777 aircraft typically features 12 washrooms configured with 3 independent sewage lines. When one line experiences a blockage, it impacts approximately one-third of the total available facilities.
Recurring Issue
Another industry insider, a former pilot who requested anonymity to HT, noted that flights carrying higher numbers of senior citizens and children tend to experience these issues more frequently.
Usually, pilots apologise for the inconvenience but continue with the flight if the situation is manageable. It is when a majority of the washrooms become unserviceable that they decide to divert and get help.”
The former pilot stated
Mark D. Martin of Martin Consulting, an aviation safety firm based in Asia, expressed scepticism about the cause, suggesting the recurring issue likely stems from maintenance deficiencies rather than passenger behaviour.
“Clogged toilets again can’t be because of the same reason as before. This should be a maintenance issue.”
Mark D. Martin, Martin Consulting
Industry observers noted that the 2-hour turnaround time in Frankfurt (FRA) represented an unusually quick resolution for this type of technical problem, highlighting the efficiency of the ground maintenance team in addressing the issue and minimizing further delays for passengers.
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