Spilled Coffee Brings Down Airliner
A United Airlines pilot's coffee accident forced the emergency landing of a Boeing 777 when communications and navigation systems malfunctioned. Luckily all 241 passengers were fine, though it took them an extra day to get to Europe.
The flight from Chicago to Germany declared an emergency and landed in Toronto rather than attempt an Atlantic crossing with screwy, wet equipment. Passengers were flown back to Chicago, lodged, and then sent on to Frankfurt. According to the Aviation Herald, the crew initially reported the radio problems as due to "unlawful interference," which is as good a description as any of what United Airlines does to coffee beans.
