What happened
On September 19, 2023, at 07:26 UTC, a collision occurred between an Air Europa Boeing 737-80 and registration EC-MJU and a Condor Boeing 757-300 with registration D-ABOJ at Palma de Mallorca Airport. The incident took place on the SOUTH taxiway during daylight conditions with maximum visibility.
At the time, the Condor aircraft was taxiing toward the runway 06R holding point. Due to a temporary halt in takeoff operations caused by a runway inspection following a bird strike, the Condor aircraft eventually came to a stop, which resulted in it blocking Gate P. The Air Europa aircraft was taxiing behind the Condor flight, following instructions to exit through the same gate.
As the Air Europa crew attempted to navigate the gate, the captain decided to deviate to the right of the taxiway centerline to pass the stationary aircraft. During this maneuver, the left winglet of the Boeing 737-800 struck the right horizontal stabilizer of the Boeing 757-300. There were no injuries to the 114 occupants on the Air Europa flight or the 276 occupants on the Condor flight.
The investigation
The investigation examined flight data recorders, cockpit voice recordings, and air traffic control communications. Investigators analyzed the positioning of both aircraft and the physical damage sustained. The investigation established that the Condor aircraft had been decelerating steadily for 61 seconds before stopping and did not make any sudden movements.
Analysis of the Air Europa cockpit revealed that the crew did not verbalize the intention to swerve, and the co-pilot did not assess the risks of the maneuver. Furthermore, the investigation found that the captain's ability to visually monitor the left wingtip from the cockpit was severely limited, requiring a 114-degree head turn. The investigation also noted that the initial reporting of the collision was delayed and communicated in Spanish, which prevented the German-operated Condor crew from immediately understanding the situation.