A plane with 337 passengers diverted because of spilled coffee
(CNN) – A transatlantic flight was forced to divert to Ireland because a pilot spilled a cup of coffee on the aircraft's controls, it has appeared.
The 49-year-old pilot, who has over 13,000 hours of flying experience, had been given a cup of coffee without a lid by cabin crew and accidentally knocked it on while the plane was flying over the North Atlantic, carrying 11 crew and 326 passengers.
Some of the liquid spilled on the sound control panel, which became very hot and produced smoke and a burning odor. The damage caused "significant communication difficulties for the flight crew," forcing them to use oxygen masks, the report states.
The equipment became so hot that one of the buttons on the control panel began to melt, causing the pilot to fall
The Air Accidents Investigation Branch said there were no injuries and the airline had since changed procedures to ensure that the covers are provided for flights on all routes.
"The operator also issued a warning about the flight crew reminding pilots to be wary of fluids," it states.
"After the aircraft was fully inspected and repaired by our team of engineers, the aircraft continued via Manchester due to the lawful operation of the crew for hours. As safety is always our top priority, we have thoroughly investigated this incident and reviewed the procedures for liquids in the cockpit. Our crews were reminded of careful handling as well as using appropriate containers for water or coffee. We apologize for any inconvenience the diversion may have caused our guests. "
