Date: 201409
Aircraft: Regional Jet 900 (CRJ900)
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Passenger
Flight phase: Cruise
Airspace: Class A ZZZ
Aircraft component: Toilet Furnishing
Component problem: Improperly Operated
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: Flight Attendant (On Duty)
Reporter qualification: Flight Attendant Current
Human factors: Other / Unknown
Anomaly: Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Illness / Injury
Detector: Person Flight Attendant
When detected: In-flight
Result: General Physical Injury / Incapacitation
Contributing factors: Procedure; Aircraft; Human Factors
Primary problem: Human Factors

Narrative: Approximately 45 minutes prior to landing; the B Flight Attendant requested my help with a passenger in the lav.  The passenger's daughter was sitting behind me and realized it was her mother.  We all went back to the AFT Lav to help.  The woman was claiming that she was stuck in the toilet.  She had flushed it while seated.  Her daughter felt that she was not able to get up because she was exhausted from traveling and did not have the strength to stand.  Both the B Flight Attendant and the daughter attempted to lift her off the toilet with no success.  At this point; the mother was starting to become dizzy; feeling faint and her skin was clammy.  We decided to administer oxygen.  We retrieved the AFT POB; started the oxygen and I went to inform the CA on what was happening. We determined that it was not necessary to divert.  At this point there was 38 minutes left.  The A Flight Attendant went back to help.  As the B started the oxygen; the bag attached to mask popped.  We retrieved the FWD POB and successfully provided that to the stuck passenger.  We gave her a few minutes to rest and again attempted to stand her up.  She kept insisting she was suctioned into the toilet. At that time; the A Flight Attendant realized that [the passenger] had lifted both the seat cover and the toilet seat and was in the bowl; truly suctioned to it.  With the permission of [the mother and daughter]; we enlisted the help of a DHing  CA.  With his help we were able to break the seal.  They lifted her up and were able to close the seat cover and set her back down.  A definite popping sound was heard as she was released from the suction.  She was very weak; faint and exhausted so we tried to give her the opportunity to rest before attempting to get her to [her seat]. We requested EMTs to meet us at the gate.  After several minutes; we determined it was not possible to get her to the seat so we informed the CA we would be landing with her in the Lav. I still had the POB around my shoulders; so I decided to stay with her during landing. We landed  and EMTs were able to take over her care.  They removed her from the lav and plane with the assistance of an aisle chair.  I believe they transported her to the hospital.  The EMT noticed a fair amount of blood in the lav and questioned [the daughter] about any reason that her mother would have been bleeding; but she did not know of any. Placards stating  'Do not flush while seated.'




Synopsis: CRJ-900 Flight Attendant describes an incident with a passenger becoming suctioned to the toilet after flushing while seated with the seat up.