A Boeing 777 United Airlines flight was forced to turn around after a bathroom malfunction caused toilets to overflow and leak into the cabin while en route from Frankfurt, Germany, to San Francisco. Passengers reported that the contents of the toilet spilled into the cabin, prompting the plane to return to its departure point.
United Airlines arranged for another plane to transport passengers to San Francisco the next day, providing overnight accommodations in Frankfurt. The same aircraft flight was canceled for maintenance on the following day. Despite the setback, the Boeing 777 returned to service a day later.
This incident is not unique as transatlantic flights have faced plumbing issues before. In February, a KLM Boeing 787 Dreamliner diverted after most of its bathrooms stopped working. United Airlines has recently experienced several mechanical problems in recent weeks, including a tire loss shortly after takeoff from San Francisco.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is closely monitoring United Airlines due to reports suggesting that it is blocking the carrier from approving or promoting pilots to different aircraft models. More severe actions like limiting new flight routes are also being considered by regulators following a spate of mechanical malfunctions affecting United Airlines.