Water poured from the ceiling of an Emirates flight, drenching passengers who used blankets to shield themselves, according to a video shared online. The incident occurred on Emirates flight EK123, traveling from Dubai to Istanbul, Turkey, on September 17, as reported by Viral Press.
Footage captured by a passenger shows streams of water falling into the cabin while travelers attempted to stay dry. Some passengers pulled out their phones to record the scene. Hsin Ying Chang, a passenger from Taiwan, described the experience to Viral Press, saying the water soaked her "like a waterfall."
Emirates Airlines addressed the event in a media statement. The company confirmed that an accumulation of condensation caused water to be observed in part of the cabin shortly after takeoff on the September 17 flight from Dubai to Istanbul. Emirates stated that cabin crew followed established procedures and relocated affected customers whose seats became wet. The airline noted that no further water was observed during the flight, which continued to Istanbul as scheduled, and apologized for the inconvenience.
Despite the airline's explanation, the source of the water remained a mystery during the flight for some passengers. Hsin Ying Chang claimed that cabin crew offered no explanation or apology at the time. She also stated that she was moved to a seat with no television or other equipment, leaving her to "sit facing the wall." Chang told Viral Press that while she had previously viewed Emirates as one of the world's most luxurious airlines, this experience changed her opinion.
Records indicate the flight departed Dubai at 11:14 a.m. and landed at Istanbul Airport at 2:16 p.m. local time, lasting just over four hours. It is unclear exactly when the leak began. Water dripping from ceiling panels can result from excess condensation in an aircraft's air-conditioning system, though officials have not confirmed this was the specific cause for the September 17 incident.
This event follows other water-related incidents in aviation. In 2024, a lavatory leak on an American Airlines flight from Dallas to Minneapolis spilled a significant amount of water into the aisle. Travelers had to step over the liquid while crew members attempted to stop the flow.