Accident Details
On Monday, 7 June 2010, at approximately 12:00 local time, a boarding incident occurred at Girona Airport involving a Boeing 737-800 aircraft (registration EI-DAX) operated by Ryanair. During the boarding process via the forward airstairs, a small girl being carried by her father fell from the top of the stairs through a gap between the handrail and the upper platform.
Injuries and Medical Response
The girl was first assessed by airport medical personnel at the scene and subsequently embarked on the flight. Upon reaching her destination, she was taken to a local emergency room, where she was diagnosed with a small fracture of the ulna and radius in her left forearm. The father was also carrying passports, boarding cards, and carry-on luggage at the time of the incident.
Aircraft and Stairs
The Boeing 737-800 was equipped with retractable forward airstairs at the forward left cabin door, which allowed passenger boarding without ground equipment. These stairs include handrails on both sides, with extendable sections that attach to the door frame when deployed. The gap between the handrail and the upper platform was identified as large enough for a small child to fit through, posing a fall risk.
Emergency Services Response
Personnel from Lesma Handling Company, Ryanair's handling service at Girona Airport, were notified of the event and informed the Airport Coordination Center (CECOA) that urgent medical attention was needed. Medical Services personnel assessed the girl's injuries, determining they were not life-threatening but recommended further diagnostic tests at a clinic. The parents opted not to go to a hospital immediately to avoid missing the flight, following a recommendation to have the girl X-rayed at their destination.
Background and Previous Incidents
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had issued a Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) in September 2007 following similar incidents involving small children. The SAIB recommended that Boeing 737 operators install warning placards on step risers and door jambs, stating that small children must be assisted during boarding or disembarking. It also recommended adding anti-skid material on the top platform and side beams. Additionally, Boeing revised its Flight Attendant Manual on 29 October 2008 for 737-series airplanes to highlight the need for attention to passengers with small children or special needs.
A similar accident at London Airport on 17 July 2009 prompted an investigation by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB), whose report (published August 2011) contained three safety recommendations: that Boeing establish a process to inform operators of changes to the Flight Attendant Manual; that Ryanair review boarding and disembarking procedures to assist passengers with children or special needs; and that Boeing review the design of the forward airstairs to add a removable barrier to minimize the risk of child falls through the gap between the extendable handrail and the upper platform.
Analysis
Examination of the incident determined that the girl was in her father's arms during boarding. The integrated airstairs are designed with extendable beams to prevent falls to the side and extendable rails to prevent falls from the top platform. While these provide protection for adults, the gap between the handrail and platform poses a specific danger to small children. The FAA SAIB and related service bulletins addressed slip protection and warning placards but did not provide physical prevention against falls through the gap. The CIAIAC considered the AAIB's recommendations necessary and sufficient and did not issue additional recommendations to avoid duplication.