An Air India flight operating from Toronto to Delhi diverted to Frankfurt, Germany, on May 2, 2025, after several lavatories on the aircraft became unusable. The incident occurred approximately six hours into the journey, leading to an unscheduled landing in Frankfurt (FRA).
The flight, designated AI188, used a Boeing 777 aircraft. Reports indicate that five of the aircraft's 12 washrooms were clogged and inoperable, prompting the crew to seek a diversion.
After landing in Frankfurt, the Boeing 777 was serviced by maintenance crews. The issue was resolved, and the flight resumed its journey to Delhi (DEL) following a delay of approximately two hours.
This marks the second similar issue for Air India in less than two months. In March, an Air India flight from Chicago to Delhi returned to its origin airport after most lavatories became clogged during the flight.
Air India acknowledged the diversion in a statement issued on May 6, describing the cause as a "technical issue."
An Air India spokesperson stated, "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.” The airline added that safety and passenger well-being are top priority.
Discussions surrounding the recurring issue have pointed to different potential causes. Some aviation personnel suggest passenger misuse, citing instances of items like rags, diapers, polythene bags, and clothes being improperly discarded in toilets, leading to blockages. The Boeing 777 aircraft features three independent sewage lines, and a blockage in one line can impact a third of the available facilities.
Conversely, Mark D. Martin of Martin Consulting, an aviation firm, suggested the repeated nature of the problem points to maintenance deficiencies.
“Clogged toilets again can’t be because of the same reason as before. This should be a maintenance issue,” Martin said.
The aircraft involved in the Toronto (YYZ) to Delhi (DEL) diversion was a Boeing 777-300ER, registered as VT-ALQ. It is approximately 15.7 years old and powered by GE90 engines. The flight had originally departed Toronto’s Pearson International Airport (YYZ) at 6:14 PM local time on May 2.
