NEW DELHI: Air India flight AI 121 to Frankfurt that took off from Delhi on Saturday afternoon returned to IGI airport three hours later because all four toilets on the aircraft were clogged.With two full meals, an evening snack and unlimited supply of beverages awaiting the 214 passengers on board, completing the over eight-hour-long journey without a toilet was not an option for the Boeing 787 Dreamliner The two toilets in the front for business class passengers as well as the two in the rear were out of order."The flushes were unserviceable so the plane had to return to Delhi," an Air India official confirmed. "The passengers could not board another aircraft since night curfew in Frankfurt would have kicked in by the time the alternate plane would have reached there."While Saturday’s incident raises questions on AI’s maintenance, airline officers recounted "horror" tales of Indian passengers flushing almost everything down the toilet."Some months ago, our ultra long Boeing 777 New York-Delhi flight was faced with an identical problem," the official said. "The pilots first wanted to divert to London but Heathrow was closed for the night. Then somehow one toilet became serviceable and passengers decided to fly to Delhi. The crew and some passengers rationed the use of the toilet for passengers."The real horror was discovered when the toilets were serviced in Delhi. "Everything made available to passengers for free was found flushed down the toilet," another official said. "Dozens of small blankets and pillows, items in overnight pouches such as socks, slippers and towels were flushed down."Some AI sources said the airline’s maintenance needs to do a better job. "AI is the oldest airline of the country," an official said. "It should know the behavior of Indian passengers and should maintain toilets accordingly. The failure to do so has cost the airline dearly, both monetarily and in terms of losing flyers’ faith."Passengers folding their legs on the seat is a typical desi habit which has led to specific instructions to the maintenance staff to look for socks in the rear fold of chairs. Similar attention to toilet maintenance may perhaps spare AI of troubles such as the one experienced on Saturday.