Incident Overview
On May 5, 2019, the crew of a Boeing 737-800, registration SP-ESA, was performing pre-flight duties in the aircraft cabin at Warsaw Okęcie Airport (EPWA), intending to operate an international flight to Hurghada (HEGN). The incident occurred during pushback from parking stand 98 to taxiway ZO2.
Sequence of Events
According to the flight coordinator, the crew began taxiing while the coordinator was still connected to the aircraft via a headset. The crew stated that after a prolonged pushback and engine start, they completed the Before Taxi Procedure checklist. The pushback vehicle was moving to the right, and the first officer confirmed that ground equipment was clear on the right side, with the captain confirming the left side. The captain, occupied with observing a taxiing aircraft nearby, did not realize they had not dismissed the coordinator. The crew waited for the aircraft ahead to taxi, and the silence on the intercom led them to believe everything was normal. After receiving taxi clearance and releasing the parking brake (the aircraft rolled approximately 20 cm), the coordinator, still connected via headset, called out. The captain immediately applied the brakes. After the situation was resolved and the coordinator moved away, the flight proceeded normally.
Cause
The cause of the incident was the crew's improper execution of the actions specified in the Before Taxi Procedure checklist, which led to the commencement of taxiing while the coordinator, with a connected headset, was still under the aircraft.
Contributing Factor
Light rain caused the coordinator to shelter under the aircraft fuselage, making him invisible to the crew.
Safety Actions
On May 8, 2019, the operator issued a notification to pilots reminding them of the absolute necessity to ensure the area around the aircraft is free of any equipment and ground personnel before performing the Before Taxi Procedure checklist. The operator also planned to publish the Final Report content in the next Flight Safety Bulletin.
Safety Recommendations
The Polish State Commission on Aircraft Accident Investigation (PKBWL) did not formulate any safety recommendations.