What happened
On 8 May 2012, during the boarding process for a scheduled flight to Stansted, England, a Boeing 737 operated by Ryanair experienced an incident at Göteborg/Säve Airport. The flight was running approximately one hour behind schedule, creating a stressful environment for the crew.
While the flight attendant was managing boarding, a piece of luggage intended for the aircraft hold was left on the cabin floor. Simultaneously, ground staff returned unsorted waste to the aircraft. After the flight attendant closed and locked the cabin door, she realized the hold luggage still needed to be moved. To facilitate the transfer, she reopened the door and stepped out onto the mobile passenger stairs platform. As she shifted her weight onto the platform, the stairs vehicle moved backward away from the aircraft. This caused the crew member to lose her balance and fall onto the airport apron. The crew member sustained four cracked vertebrae and a head wound, requiring hospitalization.
The investigation
The Swedish Accident Investigation Authority (SHK) examined the sequence of events, the aircraft configuration, and the communication between the crew and ground staff. The investigation focused on why the door was closed without authorization and why the stairs vehicle began moving while the crew member was on the platform.
Investigators looked into the conflicting accounts regarding the door closure: the crew member suggested the driver initiated the closure by releasing the door's gust lock, while the driver claimed he was simply waiting on the platform. The investigation also reviewed the operator's manual, which stipulates that the door should only be closed following a command from the flight crew or purser, and only opened upon the captain's command.
Findings
- The cabin door was closed before the cabin crew member was fully prepared for the procedure.
- The flight delay and the additional task of handling returned waste created significant stress, contributing to rushed decision-making.
- There was a lack of clarity regarding how the 'all-clear' signal to remove the stairs should be communicated to the driver.
- The crew member opened the door to retrieve the luggage without a full assessment of the risks, specifically not realizing that the door closure might be interpreted as a signal to move the stairs.