What happened
On 17 February 2014, an Airbus A321-231, registration VQ-BOC, was parked at a gate in Dubai International Airport for a scheduled ground period. While the aircraft was docked with a passenger loading bridge at the forward left door, a catering vehicle approached the aircraft to service the aft right door.
After receiving signals from a marshaller to proceed, the vehicle driver shifted the gear to drive. As the driver released the brake pedal, the vehicle surged forward and struck the aircraft. The momentum of the impact was significant enough to shift the aircraft approximately 3eredegrees from its original position. This sudden movement caused a gap to open between the aircraft door and the passenger loading bridge. A cabin crewmember standing near the door fell through this gap, dropping approximately three meters onto the ramp, resulting in serious injuries to her head and limbs.
The investigation
Investigators from the GCAA AAIS examined the vehicle's mechanical condition and the driver's recent work history. Technical inspections of the catering vehicle's braking system, engine power control, and tires revealed that the brakes were fully functional and no mechanical defects contributed to the sudden movement.
The investigation also reviewed the driver's duty records, noting that the driver had completed five consecutive 12-hour shifts prior to the incident. The investigation further looked into the emergency response at the airport, noting that the requested ambulance failed to arrive at the accident site, necessitating the use of a private vehicle to transport the injured crewmember to the medical center.
Findings
- The primary cause of the collision was that the driver was unaware the vehicle was approaching the aircraft at an excessive speed.
- The driver's situational awareness and performance were likely degraded by tiredness or distraction, following a heavy workload of 72 rostered hours over six days.
- The impact force was sufficient to displace the aircraft and create the fatal gap in the passenger loading bridge.
- The airport's emergency response was deemed unsatisfactory due to the delayed arrival of the ambulance.
Safety action
Following the findings, safety recommendations were issued to improve airside operations:
- Emirates Flight Catering was advised to review the rest policies for airside operators, specifically focusing on a more balanced distribution of break periods within daily rosters.
- Dubai Airports was advised to enhance its ramp safety emergency response plan to ensure more rapid response times and efficient medical transport for injured personnel.