Synopsis
On 26 February 2019 at approximately 1105 UTC, a Boeing 737-8AS (registration EI-DPK) operating a commercial passenger flight from Oslo to London Stansted Airport experienced an incident during disembarkation. As passengers left the aircraft via the forward integral airstairs, a child fell to the ground through the gap between the handrails. Medical personnel assessed the child, who continued the journey without treatment.
Details
The aircraft, manufactured in 2007, was equipped with two CFM56-7B27 turbofan engines. On board were 6 crew and 169 passengers. No crew injuries were reported; one passenger sustained minor injuries. No damage to the aircraft was reported.
The child was walking with a family member when they stumbled and fell sideways from the top two or three steps. The father reported holding the child's hand and felt the child pull away before falling. The exact sequence was unclear. The flight crew did not witness the fall and were initially unaware. The operator learned of the event in March 2019 through external correspondence. Cabin crew were reminded of reporting procedures, and eventually a Mandatory Occurrence Report was submitted to the Irish Aviation Authority.
Investigation
The AAIB initiated an investigation in April 2019 under Article 5 of Regulation (EU) 996/2010, aware of a similar event involving EI-DLJ (AAIB Bulletin 8/2010). The investigation was limited because CCTV did not capture the fall, and no cabin crew saw it. The scope focused on the circumstances and previous occurrences.
Previous Events
Since 2009, nine similar events were reported in Europe, six involving children. The Boeing 737 fleet with airstairs completes over 780,000 flights annually. The aircraft manufacturer reviewed these events through the Continued Operational Safety Process and considered existing safety actions adequate.
Safety Measures
The operator confirmed that anti-skid material and warning placards were installed on the airstairs. After the 2010 incident, the operator added retractable roller-tensioned tape and detachable airstair rails. The UK CAA had issued Safety Notice SN-2011/02, cancelled in 2018, recommending announcements to advise passengers to hold children's hands. The operator's ground operations manual included a pre-boarding announcement with similar advice.