What happened
On 23 December 2014, during the boarding process at London Gatwick Airport, a Boeing 73 and 8JP(WL), registration LN-DYS, was involved in a ground vehicle collision. As approximately 140 passengers were boarding the aircraft at Stand 14, the flight crew experienced a sudden sideways lurch and heard a grinding sound. Cabin crew subsequently alerted the flight deck that a vehicle had struck the aircraft.
Upon inspecting the exterior, the commander discovered that a toilet servicing truck had moved too far under the rear of the aircraft, causing a one-metre tear in the lower fuselage skin. The impact also caused the forward section of the aircraft to contact the air bridge. During the incident, a second ground crew member, acting as a banksman, was crushed between the toilet truck and a baggage conveyor, sustaining serious injuries.
The investigation
Investigators reviewed a report from the ground handling company and interviewed the driver of the service vehicle. The driver stated that he had inadvertently applied the accelerator instead of the brake while reversing toward the aircraft's toilet service panel.
Regarding the safety of the maneuver, the investigation found that the banksman was positioned directly behind the reversing vehicle rather than to the side, which deviates from recommended safety practices. However, the investigation confirmed that the vehicle was fully serviceable and the driver's training was not in question.