What happened
On May 13, 2015, a Boeing 737-800 operated by Ryanair, registration EI-EPH, arrived at Kraków-Balice Airport (EPKK) from London Stansted. After landing on runway 25, the flight crew received taxi instructions to proceed via taxiway C, then via taxiways B and A1, toward the parking stand.
During the taxi sequence, the aircraft encountered construction vehicles positioned on taxiway B6. Air Traffic Control (ATC) instructed the crew to halt before taxiway B6. Although the tower attempted to contact the construction vehicle operators via radio to clear the path, the personnel failed to respond effectively despite instructions to maintain radio watch.
To resolve the obstruction, the tower controller, in coordination with the Airport Marshal, authorized an alternative taxi route. The aircraft was directed via taxiway G and instructed to follow a "Follow Me" vehicle to parking stand 9L.
The investigation
The investigation, conducted by the Kraków-Balice Airport incident investigation team, focused on the movement of construction vehicles on the maneuvering area. The investigators examined the communication attempts made by the tower and the positioning of the construction equipment.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was the failure of construction personnel to adhere to established movement and communication rules on the airport maneuvering area.
Safety action
Following the investigation, the responsible party for the construction work was identified and reprimanded. The construction management was formally notified of the incident. Additionally, the airport conducted a review of the airfield driving permits for all contractor personnel, and those with expiring credentials were required to undergo re-examination.