What happened
During the process of deplaning passengers, a parked aircraft was struck by an unoccupied belt loader. At the time of the incident, the aircraft was positioned in a confined area of the ramp, a location that necessitated tight turns for any maneuvering equipment.
The investigation
The investigation determined that the driver of the belt loader was maneuvering the vehicle when she fell from the equipment due to gusty wind conditions. While the belt loader was equipped with an operational seat belt, the operator did not require the use of seat belts while operating such machinery. Weather reports at the airport during the time of the accident indicated sustained winds of 25 knots with gusts reaching 30 knots.