Passengers aboard Air India flight AI126 from Chicago to Delhi endured a frustrating 10-hour ordeal as their journey ended where it began. The Boeing 777-300ER was forced to return to Chicago O’Hare International Airport after multiple lavatories became inoperative mid-flight, according to reports.

A technical issue or poor planning?Air India confirmed the unannounced return but blamed the event on a "technical issue." The airline promised that all passengers and personnel would disembark without incident and that accommodations would be made to reduce any inconvenience. Alternative travel plans were also being prepared for the impacted passengers.

“AI126, operating from Chicago to Delhi on 6 March 2025, returned to Chicago due to a technical issue. Upon landing, all passengers and crew disembarked normally, and accommodations were provided. Alternative arrangements are being made to fly the passengers to their destination," Air India stated.

However, a source familiar with the situation disclosed that the aircraft had nine of its ten lavatories out of service, leaving only one functional in business class. Given the aircraft’s capacity of 342 passengers, including 303 economy-class travelers, the lack of operational restrooms left the crew with no viable option but to turn back.

Read more: Where to Travel in 2025? These 10 European countries top the list!

Mid-air turnaround near GreenlandFlight tracking data from Flightradar24 revealed that AI126 reversed course about four hours and 25 minutes into the journey, just after crossing Greenland’s coastline. Departing Chicago at 11 AM on Wednesday, the aircraft landed back at O’Hare at approximately 9 PM.

Air India offered full refunds and complimentary rescheduling options for affected passengers, acknowledging the inconvenience caused by the incident.

Passenger frustration and social media backlashWhile lavatory malfunctions are not uncommon on flights, particularly when unauthorized items clog the system, passengers expressed frustration over how the situation was handled. According to an anonymous Reddit post by one traveler, the crew was allegedly aware of the lavatory issues before departure but still chose to proceed with the flight.

Read more: US issues travel warning, advises citizens to avoid India-Pakistan border; find details here

“Apparently, the crew knew about it but decided to take off. Then the captain did not announce that the flight was returning. Some passengers noticed it on the flight map and raised the issue,” the passenger wrote.

Social media users criticised Air India's deteriorating service quality and referred to the situation as an "embarrassment" in response to the post. Many people agreed that these kinds of instances significantly damage the airline's standing internationally.