On January 28, 1988, a Mcdonnell Douglas DC-9-82 (registration N262AA) was involved in an aviation accident near Decatur, MI. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A flight attendant pulling a beverage cart caused a full coffee pot to spill into a passenger's lap, resulting in second-degree burns. The passenger continued to the destination and was hospitalized for three days.
Incident Description
During a flight, a flight attendant was pulling a beverage cart up the aisle. The pad on which the coffee pot rested caught against a curtain, causing the pad to be pulled off the cart. The full pot of coffee spilled into a passenger's lap.
The passenger service cart included a recessed area intended for the coffee pot. However, the flight attendant did not use this recessed area for the coffee pot during the service.
Passenger Outcome
The passenger sustained second-degree burns on his leg and hip as a result of the hot coffee spill. Despite the injury, the passenger expressed a desire to continue to his intended destination. Upon landing, paramedics met the passenger and transported him to a local hospital, where he remained for three days for treatment of the burns.