Incident Details
On the date of the occurrence, American Airlines Flight 323 (AA323) was taxiing and had reached the hold short line for Runway 23R. The flight crew decided to perform a power run-up in an attempt to correct a static/pressurization system problem. At that time, a Northwest Airlines DC-9 (NW878) was parked at Gate A7, positioned behind and perpendicular to AA323. The jet blast produced by AA323's run-up contacted NW878 and caused it to move.
Injuries and Damage
The movement of the parked DC-9 resulted in the disconnection of an external heater hose from the aircraft. A 15-pound metal coupling attached to the end of the hose struck a mechanic during the disconnection. The mechanic was subsequently hospitalized with internal injuries. The extent of other damage, if any, was not reported.
Crew Awareness and Clearance
The crew of AA323 reported that they were unaware of the close proximity of NW878 at the time of the run-up. Additionally, the flight crew did not request nor obtain a clearance to perform the run-up, as the area where it was conducted was not authorized for such a procedure.