Crew Scoops Poop Mid-Flight After Toilet Malfunction on Philippine Airlines

Airline says crew handled situation professionally, but crew union raises concerns over passenger and employee safety.

Jan. 30, 2026 at 11:39am

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A Philippine Airlines flight from Los Angeles to Manila experienced a lavatory malfunction shortly after takeoff, leaving the crew unable to flush the toilets for the nearly 15-hour flight. Crew members were forced to manually remove waste from the affected lavatories, scooping it out with makeshift containers, as seen in a viral video. The airline said the crew handled the situation professionally, but the crew union raised concerns that passenger and employee safety was prioritized over comfort.

Why it matters

This incident highlights the challenges airlines can face with onboard equipment failures and the difficult decisions crews must make to balance passenger experience, safety, and operational concerns. It also raises questions about airline protocols for dealing with biohazards and whether crew members receive adequate training for such situations.

The details

According to reports, the Boeing 777 flight experienced 'an inflight lavatory malfunction' shortly after taking off from Los Angeles. As a result, the crew was unable to flush the toilets for the duration of the nearly 15-hour flight to Manila. To address the issue, flight attendants were instructed to manually remove the waste from the affected lavatories, using makeshift containers to scoop out the waste and dump it in the sink, as seen in a viral video.

  • The flight departed Los Angeles on January 11, 2026.
  • The lavatory malfunction occurred shortly after takeoff.

The players

Philippine Airlines

The national flag carrier airline of the Philippines, operating flights between the Philippines and destinations around the world.

Crew Union

The labor union representing the flight and cabin crew of Philippine Airlines, which raised concerns about the incident.

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What they’re saying

“If all lavatories fail and cannot flush, waste can accumulate quickly. Simply closing the bathrooms is not viable on a long transpacific flight. Overflow is worse than controlled containment.”

— Matthew Klint, Live and Let's Fly Contributor (Live and Let's Fly)

What’s next

Philippine Airlines says it is conducting an internal investigation to 'establish facts' about the incident, and the crew union has raised concerns that will likely be addressed as part of that review.

The takeaway

This incident underscores the need for airlines to have robust protocols and training in place to handle onboard equipment failures and biohazard situations, balancing passenger comfort and crew safety. It also highlights the challenges crews can face in making difficult decisions to prioritize operational concerns over passenger experience when faced with unexpected mechanical issues.