United Airlines Flight Returns to Paris After Bathroom Malfunction on Transatlantic Route
A United Airlines flight from Paris to Washington, D.C., was forced to make an unusual U-turn after takeoff when multiple bathrooms onboard malfunctioned, leaving the aircraft unable to continue its transatlantic journey.
United Flight 331, operated by a Boeing 767-300ER, departed Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport around 5 p.m. local time on Sunday, with an eight-hour flight to Washington, D.C., scheduled. However, just over an hour into the journey, the aircraft turned back while flying over the sea between Scotland and Ireland. Flight tracking data from Flightradar24 shows the jet diverting back to Paris, where it landed safely approximately two and a half hours after departure.
In a statement to Business Insider, a United spokesperson confirmed that the aircraft returned to Paris due to “an issue with the lavatories.” The airline emphasized that passenger safety was never in question, but adequate restroom facilities are required for long-haul flights under international aviation standards. “The flight landed safely, and customers were rebooked onto the next available flight to their destination,” the spokesperson added.
Passengers faced a long delay before their journey resumed. According to flight data, the same Boeing 767 eventually departed Paris 25 hours later, once repairs had been completed. United Airlines’ Boeing 767 fleet averages 27.9 years of age, with the oldest 767-300ERs slated for retirement, while the younger 767-400ERs are expected to remain in service longer. Maintaining these older 767s is costly for the airline, which plans to replace them with new Airbus A350s or additional Boeing 787s.
Other Recent Bathroom-Related Diversions
While rare, diversions due to plumbing problems are not unheard of. In March 2024, Air India passengers endured a nine-hour “flight to nowhere” when a Delhi-bound plane was forced to return to Chicago after most of its bathrooms stopped functioning. The airline’s investigation later revealed that rags, polythene bags, and clothing had been improperly flushed and clogged the system.
United Airlines has also faced similar challenges before. In April 2024, another United transatlantic service from Frankfurt to San Francisco had to turn back after toilets overflowed mid-flight, forcing the crew to circle over the North Sea before landing. A month earlier, a KLM Boeing 787 operating a long-haul route experienced a similar problem when eight of its nine bathrooms stopped working, leaving the crew with no choice but to divert.
Why Airlines Turn Back
Incidents like these highlight how essential operational systems—beyond engines and avionics—can affect long-haul flights. Aviation regulations require a minimum number of functioning lavatories based on passenger count. On a transatlantic flight lasting eight hours or more, insufficient restroom access quickly becomes a safety and health concern.
Returning to the departure airport is often the most practical option. For airlines like United, major hubs such as Paris Charles de Gaulle have maintenance facilities, replacement parts, and rebooking infrastructure already in place. Repairing a lavatory issue at a familiar base allows airlines to minimize disruptions compared to landing at an unfamiliar or smaller airport mid-route.
Although bathroom-related diversions remain relatively uncommon, they underscore the complexity of modern air travel. Even a minor technical issue can cause significant delays when it affects passenger well-being. For United Airlines passengers on Flight 331, the inconvenience meant a 25-hour delay, but the airline ultimately prioritized regulatory compliance and passenger comfort by returning to Paris before attempting the transatlantic journey again.
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Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, businessinsider.com