History of the Flight
On 22 August 2019, a Boeing 777-200, registration AP-BGZ, was preparing to depart Birmingham Airport for Islamabad. After a normal pushback, the aircraft was stopped and the parking brake applied. The flight crew instructed the ground crew to disconnect the equipment and give a hand signal when clear. The ground crew disconnected the tug and towbar, positioning the tug to the left of the aircraft nose, and moved the towbar behind the tug for attachment to the rear towpoint.
The flight crew observed the tug clear to the left and saw the ground crew moving. After a period with no further contact from the ground crew, the commander assumed they had left. Attempts to gain the ground crew's attention via gestures and intercom were unsuccessful. The commander asked the co-pilot to obtain taxi clearance without receiving the final clearing hand signal. Approximately 23 seconds after the towbar was disconnected, the aircraft began to taxi.
Shortly after moving, the aircraft struck the towbar. The crew stopped and applied the parking brake. Neither ground personnel nor the tug were struck. The aircraft was inspected and cleared to depart. The towbar and taxiway surface were damaged.
Recorded Information
Video from the airport's camera on Stand 55C captured the event, showing the positions of the ground crew as the aircraft taxied and struck the towbar.
Analysis
After pushback, the ground crew cleared equipment normally. The commander requested taxi clearance despite not seeing the clearing hand signal. The flight crew could not contact the ground crew, and the tug remained visible to the left. They did not ask ATC to confirm the position of ground personnel and equipment. As a result, ground equipment remained in the aircraft's path, leading to a collision.
Conclusion
The commander decided to taxi before all ground personnel and equipment were clear of the aircraft. Shortly after starting to move, the aircraft struck the towbar.