What happened
On November 24, 2014, a Boeing 737-800, registration LN-RRS, operated by Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS), landed at Stavanger Airport, Sola, after arriving from Oslo. After vacating the runway, the crew received clearance from the ground controller to taxi via taxiway G and then taxiway P toward the terminal.
Simultaneously, a driver of a SAS de-icing truck departed from a parking area near the de-icing stand. Without requesting the required clearance, the vehicle crossed the red safety line and entered the maneuvering area. The driver eventually contacted the air traffic controller to request permission to cross taxiway L, but failed to disclose that the truck was already positioned on taxiway P. The controller, believing the vehicle was still behind the safety line, instructed the driver to wait for the passing SAS aircraft.
As the Boeing 737-800 approached, the flight crew observed the de-icing truck positioned on the left side of the taxiway, just outside the double yellow edge lines. The captain noted the proximity of the vehicle but believed it was at a safe distance. In an attempt to increase clearance, the captain steered the aircraft further to the right of the centerline. However, the outer 1.6 meters of the aircraft's left wingtip struck the upper cabin of the de-icing truck.
The investigation
The Norwegian Safety Investigation Authority (NSIA) examined the sequence of events, the communications between the truck driver and the tower, and the cockpit actions following the impact. The investigation looked into the infrastructure of the airport, the adherence to traffic regulations, and the post-collision procedures followed by the flight crew.
Findings
- The de-icing truck driver crossed the red safety line without authorization, an action that the investigation noted had been part of an uncorrected, improper practice over time.
- The driver failed to inform the air traffic controller that the vehicle had already entered taxiway P, leading the controller to believe the truck was still in a safe parking zone.
- The flight crew incorrectly assumed there was sufficient clearance between the wingtip and the vehicle because the truck was positioned outside the yellow edge lines.
- There were no injuries to the 103 passengers or the crew, but the collision caused significant damage to both the truck and the aircraft wing.
- Following the collision, the crew did not activate an immediate emergency alarm and continued taxiing to the terminal. Additionally, the investigation found that the crew members continued their flight duties later that day, which was inconsistent with the airline's operational manual.