B767 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Workload; Communication Breakdown; Troubleshooting
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical
Flight Crew Landed As Precaution; Flight Crew FLC complied w / Automation / Advisory; Flight Crew Diverted; General Declared Emergency
Aircraft; Chart Or Publication; Procedure; Staffing
At FL400 got EICAS message Left Engine Fuel Filter.  QRH says to land at nearest suitable airport.  Took several attempts to contact Dispatch via the SAT phone to get them in the loop.  While discussing our status with Dispatch and Maintenance the SAT phone dropped the call.  At this time SAT phone had no bars showing and we were unable to regain communication with OCC using the SAT phone.  Communications were re-established using a HF phone patch.  All parties agreed on the closest and most suitable airport about an hour away.  Clearance was received through HF to divert.  Arrived at the divert airport before sunrise and was advised that a Customs gate would not be available for another hour.  Arrived at the gate only to be held on the aircraft for over two hours.  Customs kept telling us they were lacking some document that someone on our end was not sending.  Document was finally received after about a two hour wait at the gate and passengers were deplaned.
An international B767 crew returning from a foreign airport received an EICAS L FUEL FILTER alert so they completed the QRH and after some communications difficulties with Dispatch and Maintenance diverted to an enroute domestic airport.