Air India announced on Saturday that its flights to and from London Heathrow Airport (LHR) have resumed normal operations following a temporary disruption caused by a power outage at the airport on Friday.
The airline confirmed via a post on social media platform X that flight AI111 departed on schedule, and all other flights to and from London are expected to operate without further disruptions. “Our operations to and from London Heathrow (LHR) have recommenced after the disruption at the airport yesterday due to a power outage. Today’s flight AI111 was on schedule, and other flights to and from London are expected to operate as per schedule,” the statement read. The airline also updated that AI161, which was diverted to Frankfurt on March 21, is scheduled to depart from Frankfurt at 2:05 PM local time.
Chicago-Delhi Flight Diverted Due to Lavatory Malfunctions
In a separate incident earlier this month, an Air India flight from Chicago to Delhi was forced to return to its departure airport after multiple lavatories on board became inoperative due to improper waste disposal.
Authorities investigating the issue found that polythene bags, rags, and pieces of clothing had been flushed down the toilets, causing blockages in the aircraft’s plumbing system. Chicago O’Hare International Airport released a statement acknowledging reports on social media regarding the unserviceable lavatories on flight AI126 on March 5, 2025. The statement confirmed that the obstructions led to multiple lavatories becoming non-functional mid-flight.
The flight initially departed from Chicago at 16:48 UTC and, approximately one hour and forty-five minutes into the journey, crew members reported that several lavatories in both Business and Economy Class had become unserviceable. As the aircraft continued over the Atlantic, the situation worsened, with eight out of twelve lavatories becoming unusable, creating significant discomfort for passengers.
Given the circumstances, the airline considered diverting to European cities but opted to return to Chicago due to night operation restrictions at most European airports. Officials emphasized that the decision to return to Chicago was made to ensure passenger comfort and safety.
Air India has not disclosed any further details on measures being taken to prevent similar incidents in the future but urged passengers to follow proper disposal guidelines to maintain in-flight amenities.
