United Airlines flight UA-331, which had departed from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport bound for Washington Dulles, was forced to make an emergency return just one hour after take-off due to a toilet malfunction.
On Sunday, 28 September, at 17:20, the Boeing 767-300 took off, but three of the seven toilets on board became inoperative. Considering the risk of further toilets failing during the transatlantic journey, the pilots decided to return to Paris for safety reasons.
33,000 Pounds of Fuel Dumped in Mid-Air
Since the aircraft had taken off with full fuel tanks for the nine-hour flight, the emergency landing procedure became even more critical. Upon reaching Manchester airspace, the pilots, unable to land due to the aircraft being well above its maximum landing weight, opted to dump 33,000 pounds of fuel at high altitude instead of burning it in holding mode. This decision enabled a safe landing.
Passengers Awarded €600 Compensation
United Airlines granted €600 compensation to all passengers due to the disruption. After landing safely in Paris, passengers made use of airport facilities. The airline provided alternative flight options to transport them to the US.
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