The airline's investigation found polythene bags, rags, and clothes lodged in the plumbing, which rendered several lavatories inoperable, said a company spokesperson in a statement. The flight was forced to return to Chicago O'Hare International Airport after 10 hours in air on March 6, creating a frenzy on social media platforms.

The statement from the Tata-owned airlines further explained that the flight, a Boeing 777-337 ER, had departed on time, but about an hour and forty-five minutes into the journey, the crew reported that multiple lavatories in Business and Economy Class were non-functional
As the situation worsened, eight of the 12 lavatories were affected, leading the crew to decide to divert the flight back to Chicago rather than risk landing in Europe, where night operations were restricted.

"The flight departed in time at 1648 Hrs (UTC). About an hour and forty-five minutes into the flight, the crew reported some of the lavatories in Business and Economy Class to be unserviceable. Subsequently, eight of the 12 lavatories in the aircraft became unserviceable, causing discomfort to all on board. By this time, the aircraft was overflying the Atlantic, leaving points in Europe as potential cities to divert to. However, due to restrictions on night operations at most of the European airports, it was decided to divert back to Chicago. The decision to divert was taken entirely in the interest of passenger comfort and safety," read the statement.