An Alaska Airlines flight en route to Anchorage from Hawaii was forced to turn back after a bathroom malfunctioned, causing the cabin to flood. Passengers on flight 828 found themselves in a distressing situation, with “four inches of standing water” covering the floor, according to eyewitness accounts.
The incident occurred just 90 minutes into the six-hour journey when the crew of the Boeing 737 Max 9 jet noticed water flooding the aisles from one of the forward lavatories. Attempts to contain the situation saw flight attendants using paper towels, sheets, and blankets to mop up the spreading water.
Dustin Parker, a passenger, shared his ordeal with Alaska News Source, saying, “There was probably two to four inches of standing water that swooshed out as soon as you opened that front door of the lavatory.” He added that the “entire floorboards of that aircraft [were] completely wet,” highlighting the severity of the overflow.
Alaska Airlines clarified that the mishap was due to a faulty sink and not a toilet, ensuring that the water was clean. “We apologize to our guests for the inconvenience this caused and commend the crew for their actions to ensure the well-being and comfort of our guests,” the airline stated. All affected passengers were rebooked on alternative flights.
This event is part of a troubling series of incidents involving aircraft lavatories. Similarly, a United Airlines flight recently returned to Frankfurt airport due to a broken toilet emitting a foul smell, marking another embarrassing moment for the aviation industry.
Boeing, the manufacturer of the aircraft involved in both incidents, has been facing scrutiny after a series of mishaps, including another flight that made an emergency landing due to extreme turbulence, injuring 22 passengers.