Narrative:

Msp was using runway 22 for departures and arrs due to high winds. The taxi routing was via taxiway C6, C, P, P3, runway 30R, taxiway C to runway 22. The txwys were extremely congested. While the aircraft was in motion, the lead flight attendant called on the intercom to say that a passenger was in the lavatory. I brought the aircraft to a stop. A PA announcement was made from the cockpit requesting the passenger to return to their seats and to remain seated. I waited for 6 mins at that spot, still no response from the cabin. I allowed the aircraft to very slowly move forward to free up blocked aircraft. We need either relief or guidance from the FAA regarding passenger standing while the aircraft is taxiing. The captain is to stop the aircraft and advise ATC. However, the regulations do not address frequency congestion, low visibility, blocking of critical areas such as high speed turnoff, access to txwys for fire and rescue equipment, etc. It is by far more dangerous when passenger disregard the fasten seatbelt sign in-flight, yet the cockpit crew has no control over it.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CAPT OF AN ACR STOPPED TAXIING AFTER CABIN ATTENDANT ADVISED THAT THERE WAS A PAX IN THE LAVATORY.

Narrative: MSP WAS USING RWY 22 FOR DEPS AND ARRS DUE TO HIGH WINDS. THE TAXI ROUTING WAS VIA TXWY C6, C, P, P3, RWY 30R, TXWY C TO RWY 22. THE TXWYS WERE EXTREMELY CONGESTED. WHILE THE ACFT WAS IN MOTION, THE LEAD FLT ATTENDANT CALLED ON THE INTERCOM TO SAY THAT A PAX WAS IN THE LAVATORY. I BROUGHT THE ACFT TO A STOP. A PA ANNOUNCEMENT WAS MADE FROM THE COCKPIT REQUESTING THE PAX TO RETURN TO THEIR SEATS AND TO REMAIN SEATED. I WAITED FOR 6 MINS AT THAT SPOT, STILL NO RESPONSE FROM THE CABIN. I ALLOWED THE ACFT TO VERY SLOWLY MOVE FORWARD TO FREE UP BLOCKED ACFT. WE NEED EITHER RELIEF OR GUIDANCE FROM THE FAA REGARDING PAX STANDING WHILE THE ACFT IS TAXIING. THE CAPT IS TO STOP THE ACFT AND ADVISE ATC. HOWEVER, THE REGS DO NOT ADDRESS FREQ CONGESTION, LOW VISIBILITY, BLOCKING OF CRITICAL AREAS SUCH AS HIGH SPD TURNOFF, ACCESS TO TXWYS FOR FIRE AND RESCUE EQUIP, ETC. IT IS BY FAR MORE DANGEROUS WHEN PAX DISREGARD THE FASTEN SEATBELT SIGN INFLT, YET THE COCKPIT CREW HAS NO CTL OVER IT.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.