What happened
On May 25, 2018, at approximately 08:15 UTC, a ground collision occurred at London Stansted Airport (EGSS) involving two aircraft. The first aircraft, a Boeing 737 800 with registration OY-PSE, was taxiing toward the departure runway. The second aircraft, a Boeing 737 800 registered as EI-DCJ, was positioned in a holding area awaiting takeoff.
While maneuvering, the crew of OY-PSE attempted to taxi behind EI-DCJ. The pilots determined that the maneuver could be completed without risk of collision; however, during the movement, the wingtip of OY-SA made contact with the horizontal stabilizer of EI-DCJ. The incident took place during daylight hours under visual meteorological conditions. Both aircraft sustained minor damage.
The investigation
The investigation into this serious incident was conducted by the UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB). The findings established the sequence of the taxiing maneuver and the physical contact between the two aircraft components.