Daijiworld Media Network - London

London, Sep 13: The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) said a pilot spilling coffee in the cockpit of a plane flying over the Atlantic Ocean forced it to turn back and land in Ireland. The incident happened in February.

As per Reuters, the AAIB said they did not identify the airline but it had since changed procedures to ensure that cup lids are provided for flights on all routes, and that crews are reminded of the need to use them.

The Airbus A330-243 with 326 people on board was forced to make an emergency landing when hot coffee was accidentally spilled over the cockpit control panel over the Atlantic ocean, As per report on Thursday.

The commercial flight was flying to Cancun, Mexico, from Frankfurt, landed at Shannon in Ireland.

The captain decided to divert when a strong electrical burning smell and smoke rising from the panel because of the hot coffee spill over, said AAI. It further added that the accident happened due to the carelessness of the pilot who put his coffee cup without a lid on a tray table rather than in a cup holder.