Departure of American Airlines flight 5695 from Richmond to Philadelphia was delayed 37 minutes this morning for an unusual reason. A passenger on board the 24 year old Embraer 145 regional jet (registration N653AE) operated by American’s wholly-owned regional carrier Piedmont had to use the lavatory prior to departure. But this wasn’t just any bathroom visit.
The customer got stuck in there. And, as reader Andrew shares, the crew couldn’t get the door open – and neither could mechanics. So they “took it off its hinges.”
A few months ago, a passenger on a delayed Delta flight got himself stuck in the plane’s lavatory shortly after takeoff. He couldn’t figure out how to get out. The lock was sticking, several flight attendants couldn’t free him, and finally a pilot Ma href=”https://viewfromthewing.com/delta-pilot-saves-passenger-locked-in-lavatory-using-nothing-but-a-butter-knife/” target=_blank>got it open with a butter knife.
Another Delta pilot There’s something about managed to break a passenger out of the lavatory after he was stuck in there for 35 minuts on a Salt Lake City to New Orleans flight.
Passengers aren’t always so lucky. Crew once failed to rescue a passenger stuck in a lav, and told him to sit on the toilet for landing. They passed him a note that sealed his fate: “Sir, we tried.”
United once had to divert to Denver to rescue a passenger stuck in the lavatory, and an American flight attendant locked a woman and her toddler in a lavatory during a flight, claiming they were terrorists (they weren’t).
The best advice might be to use the lavatory prior to flying, so you don’t get stuck in there while up in the air. Except, of course, on American Airlines. Because in addition to this ‘on the ground’ incident, American once had to cancel a flight because a passenger went to the bathroom before the flight and got stuck inside. Apparently they didn’t think to remove the hinges from the doors.
There are also stories of people being stuck on toilet seats from the flush pressure, though a quick check indicates that these are urban legends and impossible from an engineering standpoint. Given a choice, I’d take the stuck door, it’s less embarrassing.
Oof. RIC-PHL is typically a 1 hour flight vs. a 4-5 hour drive or by train. You’d better believe some onboard were rethinking whether these short flights are ‘worth it’ over the alternatives. I’ve had so many delays/cancels on NYC-DCA/BOS ‘shuttle’ flights that I don’t even bother anymore. Amtrak.
Maybe they should have attachment points so you could take off your belt and use it as a seatbelt for a lavatory emergency. I have often wondered why there is no safety restraint there. People get stuck there during sudden turbulence.
Getting stuck in an aircraft lavatory, especially on an RJ, is probably my MOST FEARED nightmare. No. thank. you.
@haolenate — If that’s your ‘MOST FEARED nightmare’…then, ‘you mustn’t be afraid to dream a little bigger, darling.’ I can think of far worse with airplanes.
Grandma always made us go potty before we got in the car. Sage advice.
I’m no urologist, but do people really need to use the plane potty on an under one hour flight? Extenuating medical conditions are excused.
The shifty maintenance is what caused the plane, to be delayed trapping a paying customer..
There fixed the stupidly misleading title.
Guess I’ll read this sorta news else where.
I’m wondering how the mechanic “took the door off the hinges” when the E145 uses a sliding, pocket-style for for the lavatory @ the rear of the cabin. I know that there is a removable wall/access panel at the back of the lav which can be accessed from the cargo bin, which is located directly behind the lav.
Many years ago, on a SFO/NRT 747 I was in the exit row next to the center lav’s and the lock jammed on a restroom door just before pushback. The man was locked in and the 2 attendants could not get the locking bolt to slide back. I had a Leatherman with me, a model without a knife blade and decided to “help” them. It turned out that the hinges were actually designed to be released from outside–that is what the FA was trying to do with a butter knife. The Leatherman worked better, we got the door released, freed the inmate so we could depart. It was a simple design but a good engineering choice.
Why don’t people go to the bathroom before they get on a flight. I never can understand that.
To the question why people don’t go to the bathroom before they get on the flight- mist probably do but as mentioned there are those with medical conditions where they might need to use the bathroom quick and frequently. Also when there are children on board even if they try before they board the plane; they might need the facilities while flying especially if just trained and kids sometimes wait till the last minute. Never mind the fact if you dint feel well using the facilities.
To the question why people don’t go to the bathroom before they get on the flight- mist probably do but as mentioned there are those with medical conditions where they might need to use the bathroom quick and frequently. Also when there are children on board even if they try before they board the plane; they might need the facilities while flying especially if just trained and kids sometimes wait till the last minute. Never mind the fact if you don’t feel well using the facilities.
How many of these examples were truly freak mechanical issues after the door was closed/locked properly versus idiots that blocked the door from opening with their large bodies…or…tried to open the door the wrong way (pushing/pulling the door instead of sliding it, pushing/pulling the lock knob instead of sliding it, etc.)?
Is there usually an attendant call button in an aircraft lav? Or even a handset that would enable someone to talk easily to cabin crew? I’ve used aircraft lavs on long distance flights many times, but can’t say I’ve ever noticed if there’s even a call button in there, or a handset.
I imagine on a rear-engined RJ that trying to communicate verbally through a closed lav door would be very tough to do.
Although being stuck in the lavatory are rare, it does point out that there is a flaw in the design of the door. This issue should be addressed immediately and resolved with a good solution.