A United Airlines flight from Chicago O’Hare to San Juan was forced back to the gate after the pilot reportedly spilled coffee in the cockpit.
The incident occurred while the plane was taxiing and caused a three-hour delay. The plane was able to takeoff without incidents following the extended delay. However, the following flight from San Juan back to Chicago was also delayed due to the spill.
According to View From the Wing, “Spilling much more than a little bit in the cockpit would certainly have cancelled the flight. Not only does the spill need to be cleaned, but whatever was spilled on needs to be inspected as well.”
The sterile cockpit rule, which prohibits pilots and flight crews from performing any “non-essential duties or activities while the aircraft is involved in taxi, takeoff, landing, and all other flight operations conducted below,” reportedly does not include drinking liquids.
A minor delay was a welcomed outcome to the accidental spillage compared to a similar event in 2019.
A flight from Frankfurt, Germany, to Cancun, Mexico, made an emergency landing at Ireland’s Shannon Airport after the cockpit filled with smoke following a spill. Five crewmembers were taken to the hospital for treatment.
