Reason one airplane passenger's bathroom break could've ended up costing Boeing $3,400,000
Liv Bridge
Featured Image Credit: Getty Images/kool99
A passenger's bathroom break could've been one of the most expensive trips ever as it could have put Boeing back more than $3 million.
Last year, it transpired one traveller had possibly the flight from hell - and not simply because of turbulence or the behavior of other passengers.
In this case, the unnamed male passenger became trapped in the plane's bathroom almost immediately from setting off from Mumbai airport in India - and remained stuck in there for the duration of the flight.
He tried to leave but quickly realized the door had malfunctioned when it failed to open.
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Fortunately, the SpiceJet Flight SG-268 lasted just over an hour, traveling from Mumbai airport at 2.00am local time to Bengaluru in India's southern Karnataka state, though it did have to make an 'unscheduled landing.'
Cabin crew realized he was stuck when he made 'distress calls' but were unable to unlock the door from their side.
The man was understandably panicked by the whole ordeal, so a flight attendant came up with a genius idea to attempt to reassure him.
The crew communicated to the trapped passenger via a note which read: "Sir we tried our best to open the door. However, we could not open.
"Do not panic, we are landing in a few mins, so please close the comode lid and sit on it and secure yourself. As soon as the main door is open, engineer will come. Do not panic."
Now, according to Business Insider, the malfunction could mean thousands of Boeing 737 jets need modification.
The Federal Aviation Administration published in a notice outlining an airworthiness directive for 2,612 jets registered in the US.
It is not clear which flight specifically prompted the notice.
The FAA said passengers trapped in a bathroom could be at risk of serious injury in an 'otherwise survivable emergency event,' such as turbulence or if they suffer a medical episode.
As a result, the agency has said door latches with four different part numbers ought to be replaced to prevent the situation from happening again.
And the order doesn't come cheap, with the FAA estimating it could cost the airline and other operators around $3.4 million, which includes the labor and the new latches that cost $481 each.
The notice reportedly applies to certain 737-700, 737-800, 737-900, 737-900ER, 737 Max 8, and 737 Max 9 jets and gives stakeholders a deadline of May 27 to respond.
Boeing has around 3,461 planes for US customers, which the FAA directive suggests up to three-quarters have potentially problematic latches.
As for the trauma of the trapped passenger, he was quickly rescued from the toilet when two engineers boarded and broke down the door when the plane was safely on the tarmac.
After he was freed, he received 'immediate medical support'.
The airline also stated it gave the man a full refund for the flight.