KLM B787 Alters Route After Almost 8 of 9 Bathrooms Experience Malfunctions

A transatlantic journey from Amsterdam to Los Angeles turned into an unexpected ordeal for passengers on KLM Royal Dutch Airlines flight KL601.

Departing nearly 40 minutes behind schedule, the Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner faced an unusual predicament—eight out of its nine toilets malfunctioned, leaving just one operational lavatory for over 200 passengers on the nearly 11-hour flight.

The aircraft was expected to land in Los Angeles at around 11:30 a.m. local time, having taken off at 9:30 a.m. local time in Amsterdam. Nevertheless, the pilots faced the challenge of numerous malfunctioning restrooms an hour into the flight. A circular route north of the United Kingdom suggested a possible return to Amsterdam, at least that was the initial thought. Despite this, the decision was made to press forward.

After two hours, things got worse and the plane had to make a U-turn over Greenland to return to Amsterdam. The passengers endured a frustrating “flight to nowhere” for roughly six and a half hours as a result of this unanticipated turn of events.

Soon after takeoff, flight attendants became aware of the lavatory problems when they realised there was only one working bathroom. The pilots made an attempt to continue the journey at first, but it soon became clear that this was not a feasible situation. The Boeing 787 flew for more than three hours before making a U-turn and landing back in Amsterdam, thus wasting almost seven hours in the air.