Incident Details
An aircraft struck construction equipment while taxiing on a closed portion of Taxiway A at Memphis International Airport. The airport authority had issued a NOTAM closing the segment of Taxiway A between the entrance to the Northwest Airlink hangar and Taxiway B. The NOTAM was sent to the FAA Tower and Federal Express, but the flight crew was not provided this information by Federal Express. Additionally, the closed taxiway was not physically blocked off.
ATIS Communications
The flight crew received ATIS information 'Alpha' approximately 120 miles from Memphis. The controller who recorded the ATIS did not include the NOTAM information. About 20 minutes before the flight landed, the ATIS was updated to information 'Bravo', which included the NOTAM. However, the flight crew did not receive information 'Bravo', and the approach controller did not ensure that the flight crew had the most current information.
Taxi Instructions
After landing, the flight was cleared to taxi and hold short of runway 27. The ground controller did not inform the flight crew that Taxiway A was closed. The flight proceeded along the closed portion of Taxiway A. As the flight crew maneuvered around construction equipment, the right wing of the aircraft struck the equipment.