Airbus A320 N507JT accident near Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Probable cause

A buildup of pressure in the coffee filter package resulting in the release of hot coffee and grounds when the pot locking lever was raised.

NTSB analysis

On May 28, 2019, about 1800 UTC, JetBlue Airways flight 174, an Airbus A320-232, N507JT, a flight attendant sustained serious injuries when a hot coffee pack ruptured when he was preparing the beverage service. There were no injuries to the other passengers and crew or passengers onboard. The airplane was not damaged. The regularly scheduled passenger flight was operating under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 121 from Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ), Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, to Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport (FLL), Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

According to the flight attendant, he had completed the announcements after takeoff, and began to prepare the coffee for beverage service. When the brewing process was completed in both brewers, the flight attendant lifted the right brewer handle, and the coffee pot was removed with no issue. When the flight attendant lifted the handle for the left coffee brewer, the coffee bag burst, covering him in hot coffee and grounds. The flight attendant was treated by EMS upon landing at KFLL and diagnosed with second degree burns on both hands

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for DCA19CA153 for the full record.