This happened after a passenger got trapped in a bathroom during a flight since the door had a broken latch, making them unable to open the door, according to a Business Insider report.

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On top of this, flight attendants also couldn't open the bifold door. As a result, the pilots had to make an “unscheduled landing” since a passenger trapped in a bathroom could be at risk of serious injury in an "otherwise survivable emergency event" like severe turbulence or a medical emergency.

How much will this cost Boeing?

This can be a costly ordeal. The FAA estimates up to $3.4 million in expenses, which includes labor and new latches worth up to $481 each, as per the report.

Some or all of the costs could be covered under warranty, meaning they would be borne by Boeing.

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The issue affects up to three-quarters of the 3,461 planes Boeing delivered to US customers, with the FAA's notice stating that it applies to certain 737-700, 737-800, 737-900, 737-900ER, 737 Max 8, and 737 Max 9 aircraft, according to the report.

The FAA has given stakeholders a deadline until May 27 to respond to the directive.

This however, is not the first time that bathroom issues led to a flight diversion. For instance, Air India passengers went through a nine-hour flight to nowhere last month with the New Delhi-bound plane turning back to Chicago because most of its toilets stopped working after a passenger tried to flush bags, rags, and clothes.

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Similarly in February 2024, eight of the nine bathrooms on a KLM flight from Amsterdam to Los Angeles stopped working, forcing the plane to make a U-turn over the Atlantic Ocean, according to the report.