Incident Overview
A cargo freighter, while taxiing after landing to its loading area, struck a parked airline passenger airplane that was waiting to enter its gate. The collision occurred in the early evening, during the hours of darkness. The cargo airplane was on the airport ground control frequency at the time.
Sequence of Events
The captain of the cargo airplane observed the parked airliner inside the double yellow lines but believed that the airplane was clear of its path. The passenger airplane was reported to be holding short of the gate due to traffic congestion in the gate area, with one engine running and monitoring its company ramp control frequency.
Aftermath
Following the collision, the airline passengers were deplaned via an airstair onto the ramp and then transported to the terminal. Neither airline had issued a notice to airmen (NOTAM) to its pilots regarding this area.
Ramp Area Status
According to a current letter of agreement between the tower and the airport, this area of the ramp was established as a "non-movement area," which is not under the control of the tower, including line markings.