Since we're talking chemistry, sprinkling powdered (pure) sulfur on a mercury spill is a good way to contain the small droplets and keep the mercury from vaporizing. (Or from reacting with the aluminum in the airplane.)
Yes, methyl mercury can be very nasty stuff, but it takes months to do anything, and most liquid or vaporized elemental mercury, even if ingested, won't turn into that. (Still, it is a good idea to avoid direct contact and to keep the area well ventilated.)
"Mad Hatters" did go mad from Mercury, but that's because they worked with it day in and day out to make hats (it was used to prepare felt.)
As to what it does to the aluminum, I'll leave that to the engineers...
Disclaimer: Just my opinion!
http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/hazwaste/mercury/spills.htm