United 737 MAX 8 briefly diverted after passenger trapped in lavatory

A United Airlines flight from Seattle to Newark diverted on Tuesday after an elderly passenger became trapped in a lavatory in cruise, according to an account of the flight deck communications.

Flight UA1900 left Seattle-Tacoma International Airport at 7:00 a.m. local time on October 13, bound for Newark Liberty International Airport. About two and a half hours in, the Boeing 737 MAX 8 was over Minnesota at flight level 350 when cabin crew found a 69-year-old woman locked inside the aft lavatory because of a faulty door mechanism.

Flight attendants tried to open the jammed door from outside using standard procedures, but the latch stayed stuck. After roughly 15 minutes of failed attempts, including the use of onboard tools to pry at the door, the captain contacted air traffic control. He said he was not willing to leave the passenger confined for more than 20 minutes and began preparations to divert.

Tracking data showed the aircraft starting a descent toward Chicago O'Hare International Airport and dropping to 27,000 feet as controllers cleared it for an emergency approach. Partway down, the crew freed the woman. With the passenger unharmed, the emergency landing in Chicago was called off. The captain climbed back to 37,000 feet and continued toward New Jersey.

The 737 MAX 8, registration N27274, landed safely at Newark about four and a half hours after departure from Seattle. Medical personnel were waiting, the account said.