Event Summary
On Wednesday, March 28, 2018, at approximately 06:22 local time, two airliners collided while being pushed back to their engine start-up positions on Taxiway M at Ben Gurion Airport (LLBG). The weather was rainy and dark, and the aprons were wet. The involved aircraft were an El Al Boeing 767-300 (registration 4X-EAK) and a Germania Boeing 737-700 (registration D-ABLB).
Sequence of Events
The Boeing 767, operating flight 385 to Rome with 240 passengers and crew, was parked at gate C9. The Boeing 737, operating flight 4915 to Berlin with 127 passengers and crew, was parked at adjacent gate C8. At 06:17, the 767 was cleared for pushback from gate C9 to start-up position 37, facing east. At 06:19, the 737 was cleared for pushback from gate C8 to start-up position 48, facing east. About 1.5 minutes later, the ground controller changed the 737's start-up position to 47, facing west. As the 767 reached within 14 meters of its start-up position, the tails of the two aircraft collided. The 767's horizontal stabilizer and elevator penetrated the 737's vertical stabilizer and rudder.
Damage and Aftermath
Both aircraft were damaged. The 737 sustained severe damage to the empennage, rudder, and vertical stabilizer, and was later repaired at high cost. The 767 sustained severe damage to the empennage, elevator, and horizontal stabilizer; the operator determined repair was not economically viable, and the aircraft was permanently decommissioned. No fire or panic occurred, and no emergency was declared. Passengers deplaned via mobile stairs and were transferred to the terminal by buses.
Personnel
The 767 captain was 53 years old with 15,000 hours of experience. The 737 captain was 32 years old with 4,790 flight hours. The ground controller was 35 years old with 5.5 years at Eilat tower and 2.5 years at Ben Gurion tower. Two towing crews were involved. No casualties were reported.