What happened
On 7 June 2010, during the boarding process of a Ryanair Boeing 737-800, registration EI-DAX, at Girona Airport, a young girl fell from the aircraft's forward airstairs. The child, who was being carried by her father, fell through a gap located between the handrail and the upper platform of the retractable stairs.
Following the incident, airport medical personnel assessed the child. While her injuries were determined not to be life-threatening, she was later diagnosed at a destination clinic with a small fracture of the ulna and radius in her left forearm. The aircraft was engaged in a commercial air transport operation at the time of the event.
The investigation
The investigation examined the design of the Boeing 7．37 forward airstairs, which are retractable units designed to allow boarding without external ground equipment. The investigation established that while the extendable handrails provide protection for adults, a gap exists between the handrail and the upper platform that is large enough for a small child to pass through.
Investigators also reviewed existing safety measures, including a 2007 FAA Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) and related Boeing and manufacturer service bulletins. These bulletins had previously recommended the installation of warning placards and anti-skid material; however, the investigation found that these measures did not provide a physical barrier to prevent a child from falling through the gap.
Findings
- The primary cause of the injury was the existence of a physical gap between the extendable handrail and the upper platform of the airstairs, which allowed the child to fall through.
- The father was carrying the child while also managing passports, boarding cards, and carry-on luggage, which may have impacted the stability of the child during boarding.
- Existing safety bulletins and placards provided visual warnings and improved slip resistance but failed to address the structural risk of a child falling through the gap.
- There is a lack of a formal revision service to ensure all operators are notified of updates made to the Boeing Flight Attendant Manual.