What happened
While taxiing toward the active runway, the captain of the airliner observed a loose string of baggage carts moving rapidly across the path of the aircraft from left to right. Upon reaching an intersection, the pilot swerved the aircraft to the right of the centerline in an attempt to avoid a collision. Despite this maneuver, the lead rolling baggage cart struck the left wing of the airplane. The aircraft continued traveling approximately 150 feet down the taxiway before coming to a complete stop. The impact resulted in substantial damage to the aircraft. The string of carts had originated from the direction of Concourse D, near gates 10 through 14.
The investigation
The investigation examined the equipment used for the baggage carts, which featured a manual towbar-actuated front two-wheel brake system. This system is designed to engage the parking brake when an operator raises the towbar to a vertical position. Releasing the brake requires pushing the brake/towbar-latch down with the foot while simultaneously pushing the top of the towbar inward toward the cart until the latch unhooks.
Findings
- The lead baggage cart became wedged between the aircraft wing and the taxiway surface following the collision.
- The carts were moving in an angled path toward the aircraft's path of travel.