A vacation nightmare unfolded aboard an international flight to Texas when six of the aircraft’s lavatories stopped working midair.
American Airlines Flight 37 was en route from Madrid, Spain, to Dallas Fort Worth International Airport on Oct. 6 when it diverted to New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport because of the restroom problem.
An American Airlines spokesperson confirmed the diversion to Fox News Digital, attributing it to “an issue with the aircraft’s lavatories.”
“On Oct. 6, American Airlines flight 37, with service from Madrid (MAD) to Dallas Fort Worth (DFW), diverted to New York (JFK) due to an issue with the aircraft’s lavatories,” the spokesperson said.
Reports said six of the plane’s eight lavatories were out of service, leaving passengers with access to just two restrooms during the transatlantic journey.
The seriousness of the malfunction was also captured in communications between the cockpit and air traffic control, which were heard by LiveATC.net, a website that streams air traffic communications.
After a controller asked why the aircraft needed to divert, the pilot explained that only two lavatories were still operational.
“You said only two potties, is that right?” the controller asked.
“That’s affirmative,” the pilot replied.
The aircraft landed safely at JFK and underwent a maintenance inspection, according to American Airlines.
“The aircraft landed normally and later re-departed for DFW following a maintenance inspection,” the airline said.
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“We never want to disrupt our customers’ travel plans and apologize for the inconvenience.”
Steven Arroyo, a Florida-based aviation expert and retired airline captain, told Fox News Digital that “in this case, passenger comfort and hygiene heavily influenced the pilot’s decision to safely divert the flight.”
Arroyo said the situation could also raise safety concerns. “From a safety perspective, the inherent long lines for the restroom can present a security protocol problem, not to mention safety concerns for passengers who stay in line if the seat belt sign is turned on, rather than return to their seats,” he explained.
Because the flight was international, Arroyo said the pilots, working with the airline, would need to divert to a U.S. gateway airport equipped with customs and immigration services, such as JFK, EWR, PHL or BOS. That would allow “maintenance personnel to board and fix the plane,” he continued.
The unusual diversion prompted discussion among travelers online, with some sharing their own experiences involving restroom problems during flights.
“There was ONE person that clogged two separate lavs on a cross-country 757,” one Reddit user wrote. “[The crew] said if we lost one more, we’d divert. I was so nervous.”
Another commenter said a relative had been aboard a flight from Punta Cana to Philadelphia that took off with no working bathrooms.
“They even announced there would be no beverage service because there were no working restrooms,” the user wrote.
Fox News Digital previously reported on another U.S.-bound flight that was disrupted after experiencing trouble in the air.
A British Airways flight from London to Chicago descended roughly 27,000 feet before turning back toward London following what the airline described as a “technical issue.”
Flight tracking data showed the Boeing 777 remaining airborne for several hours before landing safely at London Heathrow Airport.