Incident Overview
During a pushback operation at an airport gate, a ramp agent was serving as the 'talker,' responsible for communicating with the flight crew via a headset plugged into the aircraft's nose wheel well. The agent realized he had forgotten his lighted hand wands and moved toward the wheel well to unplug his headset from the aircraft. At that moment, the tug driver began pushing the aircraft back from the gate. As a result, the ramp agent's foot and ankle were run over and crushed by one of the nose wheel tires.
Sequence of Events
The pushback procedure was underway with the ramp agent positioned at the nose wheel well, connected to the aircraft through a headset. The agent, noticing the absence of his lighted hand wands—tools used to signal ground movement—decided to retrieve them by first disconnecting from the aircraft. While he was in the process of unplugging his headset, the tug driver initiated the pushback. The agent was unable to move clear in time, and his lower limb was caught under the nose wheel tire.
Injuries
The ramp agent sustained a crushed foot and ankle as a direct result of being run over by the tire. The specific nature of the injuries, such as fractures or lacerations, is not detailed in the source, and no information is provided regarding medical treatment or recovery. The accident report does not specify whether the agent was hospitalized or the long-term impact of the injuries.
Investigation
The incident occurred during normal ground operations at an airport. The source does not identify the aircraft type, registration, date, operator, location, time of day, weather conditions, or whether air traffic control was involved. The accident investigation likely focuses on the communication breakdown and procedural adherence between the ramp agent and tug driver during pushback.
Probable Cause
No probable cause is stated in the source.