Overview

• Meghan Reinertsen’s August 2025 TikTok video recounted how severe diarrhoea and vomiting trapped her in the aircraft lavatory on a flight from Portugal.
• She says the in-flight illness rendered the toilet unusable and led to the cancellation of the plane’s next scheduled departure from Indianapolis.
• United Airlines confirmed the episode occurred in July 2024 and that its flight crew assisted Reinertsen during the flight and upon arrival.
• Multiple outlets report that specialist cleaners in hazmat suits were summoned to deep-clean the aircraft bathroom after the incident.
• Reinertsen attributes her illness to an undercooked burger in Portugal and apologised to passengers in her viral TikTok post.