What happened
On the night of 16 February 2014, an Airbus A3/21-231, registration VQ-BOC, was parked at a terminal stand in Dubai International Airport following a flight from Novgorod, Russia. While the aircraft was stationary at its gate with a passenger loading bridge connected to the left-side door, a catering hi-loader truck struck the aft right side of the fuselage.
The impact of the vehicle was significant enough to cause the aircraft's nose wheel to rotate approximately 30 degrees, shifting the nose of the plane roughly four meters away from the parking bay centerline. This sudden movement caused a rapid separation between the passenger loading bridge and the aircraft door. A female crewmember, who was positioned near the door at the time, fell through the widening gap from a height of about 3 meters onto the tarmac. The crewmember sustained serious injuries and was subsequently transported to a hospital.
The investigation
Investigators from the GCAA AAIS examined the scene at Dubai International Airport to determine the mechanics of the collision. The inquiry reviewed the condition of the aircraft, the hi-loader, and the surrounding aerodrome environment. The investigation also included a medical assessment of the hi-loader driver, which confirmed that no substances were found in his system that would have impaired his ability to operate the vehicle.
Findings
- The collision between the catering truck and the Airbus A321-231 resulted in a puncture to the lower right-side skin of the aircraft.
- The force of the impact caused a sudden displacement of the aircraft's nose.
- The sudden movement of the aircraft created a gap between the loading bridge and the fuselage, leading to the crewmember's fall.
- The hi-loader sustained damage during the impact.