Passengers on a Virgin Australia flight from Los Angeles to Sydney lost some travel time, after people reported something stinky leaking out of the bathrooms, forcing the plane to turn back to the airport three hours after takeoff.

Travelers reported an “unbearable” smell that they thought was possibly wastewater from the toilets, reports the Independent, but the airline says the stench was the result of two overflowing sinks.

One traveler aboard the plane told a New Zealand radio show host that within five minutes after takeoff, “the bathroom just exploded, I’m not even exaggerating,” filling the plane with an awful stink for the three hours before the plane turned back. Many passengers reportedly resorted to wearing masks to keep the stench out.

Some passengers claimed they could see the waste streaming down the aisle, visible from their seats, but the company said the assertion that it was toilet waste is “completely incorrect.”

The airline said it turned back for passengers’ comfort, and put them up in hotels for the night, saying in a statement:

“In accordance with standard operating procedures, the Captain made the decision to return to port as a precautionary measure after two of the sinks on board were leaking. Reports of human waste in the aisle are incorrect. The safety of the aircraft was never in question.”

Virgin Australia plane forced to fly back to LA after passengers complain of ‘unbearable smell’ from leaking toilets [The Independent]

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