Incident Details
A Jetstream aircraft, parked at the passenger terminal with both engines off, was undergoing passenger deplaning. Two ramp agents were reportedly stationed at the base of the airstair door to assist passengers. According to the wife of the injured passenger, her husband, who was diabetic, did not receive aid from these agents. While stepping from the last airstair step to the ground—a distance of about 18 inches—the passenger fell and fractured his hip.
Policy Lapse
A Northwest Airlink official disclosed that a step was not positioned below the final airstair step, violating a verbal company policy. The policy, which existed only orally at the time, required an additional step for Jetstream aircraft. A written version of the policy was in the process of being created and was to be incorporated into the station manual.
Post-Accident Actions
In the wake of the incident, all ramp agents underwent retraining on the use of the additional step requirement for Jetstream airplanes. This retraining was aimed at ensuring adherence to the policy going forward.