Overview
On June 10, 2016, an Embraer 170 aircraft being pushed back from stand 23 at Warsaw Chopin Airport (EPWA) was stopped by the pushback coordinator after a vehicle drove behind the aircraft's tail. The incident was classified as an incident. No injuries occurred, and all 71 persons on board were unharmed.
Circumstances
During the pushback procedure, the pushback coordinator gave a signal to the tug operator to initiate movement. Meanwhile, a vehicle driver, waiting on a service road, observed the coordinator and misinterpreted the signal as permission to proceed, causing the vehicle to pass behind the aircraft. The coordinator noticed the hazard and stopped the aircraft. The driver had valid credentials and had completed the required training for movement on the apron. He stated that he had seen the aircraft with its anti-collision lights on and had initially stopped as required. However, upon seeing the coordinator's signal, he mistakenly believed it was a clearance to drive.
Findings
The investigation determined that the vehicle driver violated the airport operator's instruction (INOP-IRPP) regarding vehicle and pedestrian movement on the apron. The driver's actions were the direct cause of the incursion.
Cause
The probable cause of the incident was human error, specifically the driver's failure to comply with the applicable procedures for vehicle and pedestrian movement on the airport apron.
Preventive Actions
As a preventive measure, the driver was to undergo retraining on IATA AHM manual signals and the INOP-IRPP instructions. No safety recommendations were issued by the investigation commission.