Japan Today Get your ticket to GaijinPot Expo 2024
national

Broken toilet flush forces JAL Dreamliner to turn back to Moscow

37 Comments

The requested article has expired, and is no longer available. Any related articles, and user comments are shown below.

© 2013 AFP

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

37 Comments
Login to comment

It must have been a stinky situation.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

10 hours on any plane wit unflushable toilets... Give people parachutes....

1 ( +3 / -2 )

One answer fits all situations for Japan.

This is most " regretable" but I'm sure they will " sincerely reflect on the situation", "collect all relevant information swiftly " and "take appropriate action speedily ", "to avoid public confusion" - like form an expert panel.

-9 ( +5 / -14 )

Jesus, they can't even get the outsourced toilets to work??

-8 ( +5 / -13 )

man, imagine if you really had to go...2 hours, and some turbulence, would be unbearable!

1 ( +3 / -2 )

No wonder Boeing lost a lot of orders from Japanese Airliners!

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

Could have just dumped a bucket of water in and it would have gone away.

Food whether cold or hot still tastes terrible.

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

What a crappy situation!! $hit!!

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Plungers may be needed on board in case of such glitches of toilets.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

A fair warning to travelers visiting a toxic Japan. Are the toilets smarter than those on board?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

In post-Soviet Russia, toilet flushes you.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Anychance of getting a refund for these planes?

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

A real pain in the butt.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Poor Dreamliner. It came out with a BLAST, then problems with suppliers caused SKID MARKS, its reputation started to FLOAT up again when revenue flights started, but now it seems to be getting FLUSHED DOWN again...

1 ( +5 / -4 )

This issue became an article only because of the problems caused by the lithium batteries. Kick 'em when they're down.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

The JAL guy mentioned toilets and meals in the same sentence. That's not good PR.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Well, it would have been worse if they caught fire.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Even minor faults can lead to major ones. If the toilet flush and food heating units broke down what could have been next on the list? Cabin air systems? Interior lights? Engine shut downs? Better safe than sorry... and no way would I want to fly without working toilets.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

those Airbus sales reps will be going into overdrive! finally breaking Boeings stranglehold on the Japanese market with JAL has brought there share up to 20%. betting theyll get many more orders the longer the lemonliner keeps having problems. orders for 2013 are Boeing 890, Airbus 1062, for last three years Boeing 2898, Airbus 3314. look like Airbus is taking the lead.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

In 2008, I flew Aerolineas Argentinas and none (as in zero) of the lavatories were operational. Pre-boarding, the woman at the gate asked all passengers to relieve themselves prior to boarding. It was an ancient 737 too. At least I was only flying from Porto Allegre to Buenos Aires -- that's a short flight.

But holding it in for ten hours? Better stow adult diapers underneath the seats or turn that plane around!

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Shows how big a country Russia, 10 hours to Moscow? Wow!

It takes about that to cross the Pacific.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

In 2008, I flew Aerolineas Argentinas and none (as in zero) of the lavatories were operational.

In the 1970s I flew with a certain Asian carrier several times from Japan to Europe. Most of the passengers were from that certain Asian country and apparently did not know how to use the facilities. They would squat on top of the seats and ... sorry, I leave the rest to your imagination and hope I have not spoiled your evening. Most of the facilities had been disabled towards the end of the flight. We have gone a long way since those years, but there are still millions getting on a modern airplane for the first time in their lives. Not saying Russians did not know they could flush . . .

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Shows how big a country Russia, 10 hours to Moscow? Wow!

As the sun is rising on Russia's western border, it's setting in Vladivostok. There's a LOT of longitudes involved with Russia.

Could have just dumped a bucket of water in and it would have gone away.

Not saying Russians did not know they could flush . . .

The toilets used in a pressurized aircraft are completely different than the ones in your homes. Flipping the lever on the aircraft toilet electrically opens a valve to the outside air, and the pressurized cabin air along with the venturi effect at the outside opening pushes the contents of the bowl out of the plane. If the valve has no electricity to open, pouring water into the bowl just dumps your mess all over your shoes when the bowl overflows.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Fadamor

The toilets used in a pressurized aircraft are completely different than the ones in your homes.

This part you got right..

Flipping the lever on the aircraft toilet electrically opens a valve to the outside air, and the pressurized cabin air along with the venturi effect at the outside opening pushes the contents of the bowl out of the plane.

But OMG, don't try to explain to others about things you don't have the slightest idea about...I know you didn't realized, but the toilet you described does not work while the plane is stationary with the doors open, flying at low altitude and at low speed. Search for "vacuum flush toilet" if you want to learn something...

0 ( +1 / -1 )

This is a minor glitch. The Dreamliner will, in a few years, become one of the most popular aircraft ever to fly.

-5 ( +1 / -6 )

Poor Boeing, problems just keep piling.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

@Serrano no it wont wait until the A350 comes out, said to have 20% cheaper running costs than the lemonliner, Airbus already has 800+ orders for the plane

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Not the first time this has happened. Maybe they should consider alternative emergency back-up systems, at least until they have chased the gremlins out..

1 ( +1 / -0 )

But OMG, don't try to explain to others about things you don't have the slightest idea about...I know you didn't realized, but the toilet you described does not work while the plane is stationary with the doors open, flying at low altitude and at low speed. Search for "vacuum flush toilet" if you want to learn something...

So... are you saying there is NOT an electrically operated valve involved? Or are you picking nits?

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Like I said in all my previous 787 posts, it's the wiring, the carbon fibre fuselage and static discharge dissipation management that is causing arcing and shorts damage to control logic boards rendering circuits and appliances on board non-serviceable or leaving them acting like the went a three day bender. Eventually, luck is going to run out for Boeing and the airlines flying the 787 and people will be injured or worse... Let's hope they use their heads and pull all these 787 until the problems are found. How much profit will Boeing justify for gambling with peoples' lives?

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

"no it wont wait until the A350 comes out, said to have 20% cheaper running costs than the lemonliner, Airbus already has 800+ orders for the plane"

I guess the airlines that have ordered the A350 have plenty of money, since it costs way more than the 787. I seriously doubt A350 running costs are 20% cheaper than 787's.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Maybe Boeing will rename Dreamliner to Toiletleaker to sell them in future?

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

fix the toilets, just focus on that.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

The Boeing should change the model numbers and name because the numbers of 787 (7+8+7=22, 2+2=4) may be bad luck or the name Dreamliner was bad luck for Boeing Company. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner has been a lot trouble from start and the 787 Dreamliner has never ending problems so far.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Hey Kbuta Chan: :) I hope someone in Boeing is reading your comment!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Three must be using so much parts from China. That is good for Aerobus,

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Login to leave a comment

Facebook users

Use your Facebook account to login or register with JapanToday. By doing so, you will also receive an email inviting you to receive our news alerts.

Facebook Connect

Login with your JapanToday account

User registration

Articles, Offers & Useful Resources

A mix of what's trending on our other sites