What happened
On May 8, 2013, an Embraer 170 was taxiing toward runway "O" at Warsaw Chopin Airport (WAW). During the taxi maneuver, the aircraft crossed the path of a Mulag vehicle that was traveling on taxiway "A". The pilot of the aircraft was able to apply the brakes to avoid a collision. Following the incident, the pilot notified the Tower (TWR) that the driver of the vehicle was using a mobile phone during the occurrence.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the movement of the ground vehicle and the adherence to airport operational procedures. The investigation was concluded by the PKBWL after the vehicle operator, LS Airport Services, failed to submit a formal incident report to the commission despite requests.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was the failure of the vehicle operator to maintain proper vigilance and follow established operational procedures at Warsaw Chopin Airport.
- The driver of the ground vehicle was distracted by the use of a mobile phone while operating the vehicle on the taxiway.