An American Airlines flight carrying more than 280 passengers was forced to divert to New York after only two lavatories remained operational on board. The Boeing 777-200ER departed Madrid at 11.10am local time on 6 October and was well into its 10-hour journey to Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport when the toilet malfunction struck.
Pilot reports only two toilets working
While American Airlines Boeing 777s typically have eight toilets on board, in this instance only two remained in working order. As the plane approached John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), the pilot informed air traffic control: "So (we) have only two potties operating on board for American 37."
The controller responded: "You said only two potties. Is that right?" "That's affirmative," the pilot replied. With more than four hours of fuel remaining, the aircraft was above its normal landing weight.
Pan-pan declared and diversion to JFK
This prompted the pilot to declare "pan-pan," the radio call used to signal an urgent situation that is not immediately life-threatening. According to Flightaware, AA37, listed as a 777-223 built in 1999, touched down at JFK after seven hours and 16 minutes, at 12.27pm local time.
"American Airlines Flight 37 landed at JFK International Airport in New York after the crew reported an inadequate number of operational lavatories," the Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement. After spending almost three and a half hours on the ground at JFK, the same aircraft departed once again at 3.56pm local time.
Flight eventually reaches Dallas
The American Airlines aircraft touched down in Dallas at 6.13pm, having originally been scheduled to arrive at 2.15pm. The cause of the toilet failure remains unknown.
Aviation regulators do not impose a specific, fixed ratio of toilets to passengers for in-flight operations, though airlines typically aim for one lavatory per 50 passengers. With 287 people on board and just two functioning toilets, each facility was catering for more than 140 passengers.
American Airlines has previously rerouted a Boeing 777 operating the Dallas-Madrid route to JFK owing to a lavatory issue. On August 7, 2024, flight AA36, operated by 777-200ER N751AN, was diverted to New York after a lavatory overflowed, according to Aviation A2Z.
In March 2025, Air India flight AI126 from Chicago to Delhi was forced to turn back after several toilets became unusable, returning to Chicago following approximately 10 hours in the air, according to The Tribune.
