Date: 202001
Location: ZZZ.Airport, US
Aircraft: Large Transport; Low Wing; 2 Turbojet Eng
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Passenger
Flight phase: Cruise
Airspace: Class A ZZZ
ATC / advisory: Center ZZZ
Aircraft component: Turbine Engine
Component problem: Malfunctioning
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: Flight Attendant (On Duty)
Second reporter function: Flight Attendant (On Duty); Flight Attendant In Charge
Anomaly: Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural MEL / CDL; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Other / Unknown
Detector: Person Flight Crew
When detected: In-flight
Result: Flight Crew FLC complied w / Automation / Advisory; Flight Crew Landed As Precaution; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport
Contributing factors: Aircraft; Company Policy; Procedure
Primary problem: Ambiguous

Narrative: Approximately 1 hour into flight during food and beverage service the Captain made an all call and stated the right engine was over heating and we needed to turn back to ZZZ.  FAs stowed carts; secured the cabin; conducted 30 second review and assessed.  No emergency cabin prep required.  Captain made appropriate announcements for passengers including emergency personnel upon landing as to not alarm them of the visual presence.  Captain informed crew that company  management has encouraged the flight deck to continue on to ZZZ1 and disregard the over heating engine.  The landing was a heavy one due to fuel weight.  It was a nervous one but also uneventful.Once back in ZZZ the replacement aircraft we were given had an inoperative water system.  It had been shut off by maintenance.  Therefore; the company was sending a flight load of passengers that had already experienced a return to land on an additional 5.7 hour flight with NO workable water.There MUST be an FAA regulation (time or miles) as to how far a aircraft can operate with an inoperative water system.  It is HIGHLY unsanitary and unethical.  Human health and well-being must come before profit.


Second narrative: Thirty to forty minutes after takeoff; the Captain advised the cabin crew that the flight would be returning to ZZZ as a result of the #2 right engine overheating. The Captain advised that it would be a normal landing but as a precaution; emergency personnel would be on standby. Preparation for landing was normal and the cabin crew conducted their 30 second review of evacuation procedures in addition to mentally identifying able-bodied persons to assist in the event of an evacuation. The flight landed safely; and the Captain debriefed the crew after deplaning. Communication updates by both the Captain and I (as Lead FA) were given to passengers regarding the status of the flight; purpose for return; aircraft and gate changes.The flight was met by Flight Service manager; along with another manager(s) from Customer Service. The Flight was reassigned a new aircraft and a new flight deck crew.While waiting for the arrival of the new flight deck crew; the cabin crew was notified that the newly assigned aircraft would be flying to ZZZ1 without water; no water to wash hands; no water to flush toilets; no water to brew coffee.Cabin Service catered one case of extra bottled water; four extra bottles of soap; the entire surplus of towelettes they had in stock (which was enough towelettes to accommodate about twenty people). NOTE: Flying time to ZZZ1 was 5 hours and 7 minutes with a full flight.Soon after the cabin crew boarded the new aircraft and upon learning of the maintenance water issue; the newly reassigned Captain removed himself from the flight for reasons of fatigue. The First Officer still had not boarded. At XA:10 Crew Tracking was notified that the cabin crew would not be continuing.CONCERNS:My limited knowledge of aerodynamics and aircraft maintenance aside; I do have some serious concerns regarding judgment calls made by airline leadership from the events of the day.The first being that there had been an apparent request by company leadership to have the original aircraft continue onto ZZZ1 once the pilots had taken corrective action inflight.Another concern was the decision by company leadership to have a full aircraft of passengers and crew fly cross-country on an aircraft with no water and no working lavatories. Sanitary concerns being paramount once brought to our attention; my crew and I were unable to locate service policy and procedures relevant to this type of operational event.Then there was the deterioration of the customer trust in the company brand. On two separate occasions; I asked both the Customer Service Manager and the Lead Gate Agent to make announcements; specifically; about using the facilities before boarding the aircraft.As a courtesy and once the decision was made to release myself from duty; I stayed behind on the aircraft until the third assigned fight deck crew arrived in order to brief them of the events. Upon leaving the aircraft; I was barraged by concerned and scared passengers. This is understandable. What is not understandable is that everyone to whom I spoke stated that announcements made by gate agents were limited to rebookings on other flights. The events of the day culminated in a downward spiral of events; ultimately leading to the perception of a total disregard for safety and concern for both crew and customers. All confidence was lost; and I believed it would be unsafe to fly.


Synopsis: Air carrier flight attendants reported that an air return was made due to an overheating engine. The flight had a planned duration of 5 hours and the replacement aircraft had an inoperative water supply system.