An Air India flight suffered clogged toilets, forcing an emergency landing after more than 10 hours of flying.

The airline confirmed that flight AI126, bound for Delhi, had to return to Chicago O'Hare International Airport on March 5, due to a technical issue with the plane.

Reports said the decision to turn back was made after nine of the 10 restrooms on the Boeing 777 were blocked, leaving only one operational in business class for more than 300 passengers.

The flight departed Chicago at 11 am on Wednesday and returned around 9 pm, resulting in a ten-hour journey back to the starting point.

Passengers affected by the incident were offered free rescheduling and full refunds for cancellations by the airline.

The company said in a statement: 'Upon landing at Chicago, all passengers and crew disembarked normally and have been provided with accommodation to minimise inconvenience. Alternative arrangements are being made to fly the passengers to their destination.'

Clogged toilets on aeroplanes are commonly caused by passengers flushing prohibited items.

With the limited number of available restrooms, it is not uncommon for the flight crew to decide to turn back if a significant number of toilets are out of service.

Air India is generally regarded as one of the worst carriers in the world. It was ranked a lowly 90 out of hundreds by the aviation industry consultant Skytrax in the World's Top 100 Airlines 2024.