This flight was diverted over a spilled drink
A passenger claims a fumbling flight attendant who drenched him was to blame for a plane having to make an emergency landing in the US but the airline says it was his fault.
The American Airlines flight from Miami to Chicago was diverted due to a drink mishap.
Roughly 150 people were aboard the Boeing 737 when the plane landed safely in Jacksonville after a soft drink splashed on an electronic device in the main cabin
The flight crew decided to make an emergency landing, according to Matt Miller, spokesman for American Airlines.
Miller said the plane is undergoing inspection to see if it will be able to continue or if another aircraft is needed.
The incident, which is under investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration, left passengers stranded at the airport until their journey was expected to resume about 10pm.
The airline and at least one passenger are split about who's to blame for the blunder. Miller attributed the spill to a passenger, but Preston Wake doesn't remember it happening that way.
Wake, 43, said he was seated in row 7 on the flight taking him home to Chicago when a flight attendant fumbled a soft drink and inadvertently drenched him.
"I can't really tell you how far it went, but I was soaked," said Wake. "I had to change my clothes and everything."
The next thing he knew, Wake said the crew was preparing to land in Jacksonville. "The reaction time was very good – we had to go where we had to go," he said.
Despite the inconvenience, Wake praised airport staff for accommodating passengers. They were treated to snacks while they waited.
"They've been taking care of everybody and I'm very pleased with that," Wake said.
Tom Francis, spokesman for Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department, said the department had units on standby after receiving an alert about the unexpected stop but the plane landed without incident.
Written by Garret Pelican. First appeared on Stuff.co.nz.