An American Airlines flight carrying more than 280 people was forced to divert to New York after “only two potties” were left operating on board. The Boeing 777-200ER left Madrid at 11.10am local time on October 6 and was well into its 10-hour journey to Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport when a toilet issue struck the aircraft.
Only two of eight toilets working
There are usually eight toilets on board an American Airlines Boeing 777, but in this case only two were working. As they approached John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), the pilot told air traffic control: “So (we) have only two potties operating on board for American 37.”
He was asked in response: “You said only two potties. Is that right?” “That’s affirmative,” the pilot responded.
Pilot declares 'pan-pan'
The aircraft had more than four hours of fuel left, meaning it was over its normal landing weight. This prompted the pilot to declare “pan-pan,” the radio call for an urgent situation that is not immediately life-threatening.
According to Flightware, the AA37 listed as a 777-223 built in 1999, landed at JFK after seven hours and 16 minutes, at 12.27pm local time.
Flight eventually reaches Dallas
“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 almost three and a half hours on the ground at JFK, the same plane took off at 3.56pm local time.
The American Airlines plane landed in Dallas at 6.13pm, its original arrival time had been 2.15pm. It is unclear what caused the toilets to fail.
Aviation regulators do not mandate a specific, rigid ratio of toilets to passengers for in-flight operations, however, typically airlines usually aim for one toilet for every 50 passengers. With 287 people aboard and only two working lavatories, each toilet was serving more than 140 people.
American Airlines has previously diverted a Boeing 777 operating the Dallas–Madrid route to JFK due 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 made a U-turn after multiple toilets became unusable, landing in Chicago after about 10 hours in the air, according to The Tribune.
