History of the Flight
G-EZDN, an Airbus A319-111, was positioned on Stand 53 at Liverpool John Lennon Airport, ready for departure. The steps had been removed and the slides armed. All cabin and flight deck checks were completed, and the Pilot Flying (PF) made headset contact with the ground crew, who confirmed that all external checks had been completed and the aircraft was ready for dispatch. The Pilot Not Flying (PNF) contacted ATC for pushback and start clearance.
Clearance was given subject to the arrival of another company aircraft on Stand 52, which was immediately to the right of Stand 53. This conditional clearance was relayed to the ground crew while pre-start checks were completed and the anti-collision beacons were switched on.
The other aircraft arrived on Stand 52, and the ground crew requested brakes release. The pushback proceeded but, after about 20 metres into the push with the aircraft still travelling in a straight line, an impact was felt and the tug slowed to a halt. The commander contacted the ground crew, who said they believed there had been a problem and the aircraft had struck something. The aircraft was towed back onto Stand 53, with no abnormal indications on the flight deck.
The commander and the cabin staff ensured that all normal arrival checks were completed before the passengers were disembarked normally. The local engineering support advised that the right wing had received significant damage and the aircraft was now unserviceable.
The aircraft had struck a set of steps intended to receive the aircraft on Stand 52. It was intended that they would be positioned at the rear left door of the inbound aircraft and had been moved backwards so that the left wing would clear them. Unfortunately, this meant that the steps now encroached into the pushback sensitive area of G-EZDN, despite the fact that the aircraft anti-collision lights were flashing and the external walk round by the ground handling agent had reported that the area was clear.
Safety Actions
The aircraft operator confirms that the following safety actions have been taken: 1. A communication has been distributed to the ground handling staff throughout the operator’s network to highlight the importance of a thorough walk round immediately prior to aircraft departure. 2. The ground handling agents’ procedures have been altered to prohibit the parking of ground equipment in areas other than those designated by markings.