What happened
On February 27, 2017, an Airbus A320-214 was taxiing toward a parking stand via taxiway M3 at Warsaw Chopin Airport (AD EPWA). During the maneuver, the aircraft was forced to come to a complete stop because a conveyor belt driver occupied the service road near stand number 16.
The driver, operating the vehicle on the service road between stands 15 and 16, turned left onto the service road in front of stand 16. Upon noticing the taxiing aircraft, the driver stopped the vehicle in a position that obstructed the aircraft's path. The pilot was required to interrupt the taxiing sequence until the vehicle was moved. Once the conveyor belt was cleared from the path, the aircraft proceeded safely to its assigned parking position.
The investigation
The investigation, conducted by the State Airports (Porty Lotnicze), utilized CCTV footage to reconstruct the sequence of events. The review focused on the driver's compliance with the Warsaw Chopin Airport Operating Instructions. The investigation confirmed that the driver failed to adhere to specific airport regulations regarding the movement of vehicles in relation to aircraft.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was the driver's failure to follow the Warsaw Chopin Airport Operating Instructions, specifically the regulation prohibiting vehicles from crossing or occupying the path of a taxiing or towed aircraft if such action necessitates a change in the aircraft's direction or speed.
- Weather conditions at the time of the incident were clear (CAVOK) and had no impact on the event.
Safety action
Following the incident, the following actions were taken:
- The driver's permit to operate vehicles within Warsaw Chopin Airport was revoked in accordance with the airport's violation procedures. The individual was required to undergo retraining and pass a new examination.
- An analysis was initiated regarding the possibility of modifying the horizontal markings on the service road between stands 15 and 16 to better alert vehicle drivers to the potential for aircraft taxiing to adjacent stands.