Delta Air Lines Flight 81, en route from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, was diverted to London Heathrow Airport on August 13 due to a reported mechanical issue with an onboard lavatory. The Airbus A330-900 was carrying 209 passengers and 13 crew members when the diversion occurred.
As the aircraft approached Heathrow, the flight crew declared an emergency, indicating an overweight landing due to the diversion. The flight landed safely at Heathrow, where Delta maintenance personnel attempted to address the issue.
A spokesperson for Delta stated, "We apologize to our customers for their experience and delay on Delta Flight 81 from Paris Charles de Gaulle to Seattle, which diverted to London Heathrow after the crew reported a mechanical issue involving an onboard lavatory." The airline added that this is not the standard of service they aim to provide and that their focus is on safely and efficiently getting passengers to their destinations.
Following maintenance, the aircraft was able to depart Heathrow. However, due to crew duty time limitations, the flight's next destination was changed to New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport. Passengers cleared U.S. Customs at JFK before continuing their journey to Seattle. The airline did not provide specific details about the mechanical problem with the lavatory or the required repairs.