In a startling and uncomfortable revelation, Meghan Reinertsen, a nanny and aspiring actress, recently shared that a United Airlines flight was cancelled after she experienced what she described as the “worst diarrhea ever” mid-air. She told over 20 million viewers that she was returning to the U.S. from Portugal for a film premiere when sudden, violent gastrointestinal symptoms overtook her.
@meghanreinertsen Part 1 of how I personally got a United flight cancelled #storytime #airplane #diarrhea @United Airlines ♬ original sound – Meghan Reinertsen
From stomach trouble to full-on chaos
Reinertsen says the episode began just before takeoff, when she felt a deep, ominous “disturbance” in her belly. Despite the seatbelt sign, she rushed to the lavatory, where over approximately 20 minutes she suffered uncontrollable diarrhea, accompanied by vomiting, cramps, sweating, and tears. At one point, she called for assistance and was given a bag to contain her vomiting.
When the aircraft landed in Indianapolis, she learned that the next flight the plane was scheduled to operate had been cancelled, so a hazmat team could conduct a deep clean, deemed necessary due to the uncertainty around what she had brought onboard. She was escorted off in a wheelchair and later endured another episode in her hotel bed.
Cause, risks and airline limits
Reinertsen believes her ordeal stemmed from food poisoning after eating an undercooked hamburger the prior evening in Portugal. While food poisoning is seldom life-threatening, its symptoms, nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhea, can be severe and debilitating.
Though United Airlines has not publicly commented on this particular incident, stories of in-flight gastrointestinal emergencies forcing diversions or deep cleans are not unique. Airline crews must weigh passenger safety, aircraft hygiene, and contagion risks when responding to such extreme medical events in flight.
