Synopsis
On 4 October 2023, a ground vehicle collided with a Boeing 737-8AS, registration EI-EGD, at London Stansted Airport. The aircraft was turning onto stand D62R when the vehicle, a Bulmor SideBull OMNI 135, struck its right wing leading edge. The vehicle driver may have experienced inattentional blindness and may have been affected by task fatigue. No injuries occurred among the 6 crew and 103 passengers. The vehicle operator and airport authority both issued safety notices to drivers regarding safe driving practices.
History of the Accident
EI-EGD landed on Runway 22 and taxied to stand D62R via Taxiway Juliet. It entered Apron D at 12 kt with engine 1 at 20% N1 and engine 2 shut down. The vehicle driver had completed 13 tasks that morning with periods of downtime. He was initially tasked to assist a passenger at stand D62L but was redirected to D63L, then instructed to return to D62L, which he found frustrating. He drove along the back-of-stand road at 13 mph (speed limit 20 mph). Meanwhile, the pilots checked the stand area and began the right turn. The co-pilot announced "Clear right" after seeing the vehicle but thought it had stopped. As the aircraft turned at 10 kt, the driver did not notice it. A ground handler at the stand attempted to signal but did not use the STOP button. The driver noticed the aircraft just before collision, performed an emergency stop, but the right wing struck the vehicle roof at 8 kt.
Recorded Information
CCTV footage, the vehicle's internal and external camera systems, and the aircraft's FDR and CVR were synchronized. The driver glanced left and right along the back-of-stand road before joining it, but did not look left toward the aircraft while driving. The aircraft started turning about 11 seconds before collision; the driver noticed it about 5 seconds later.
Vehicle and Personnel
The Bulmor SideBull OMNI 135 passenger transport vehicle had a wide field of view; the aircraft was visible. The driver began airside work in March 2023, gained his permit in April, and completed vehicle training in June. He was on his first shift after four rest days, starting at 0526 hrs. Pre- and post-accident drugs and alcohol tests were negative. He had been involved in a prior collision six weeks earlier. He reported feeling that work distribution was unfair and found driving "unnerving" due to other vehicles.
Analysis
Taxiing speeds were according to procedures. The pilots completed a visual check before turning, but the vehicle was not in conflict at that time. Their attention then shifted to the stand guidance system. The driver's visual behavior indicated most attention was along the road rather than toward the aircraft or stand area. The driver stated his primary concern was other vehicles and aircraft pushing back, which may have influenced his search pattern, consistent with inattentional blindness as demonstrated in the invisible gorilla experiment. The vehicle design did not contribute to the collision.