What happened
On 19 June 2005, an Airbus A320, registration LZ-BHA, was involved in a ground incident at Belfast International Airport. The aircraft, operating a passenger flight, was being manoeuvred into Stand 27. The commander followed the AGNIS (Azimuth Guidance Nose-In Stands) indications to taxi the aircraft onto the stand and brought the plane to a halt. Upon stopping, the left wing tip struck a set of mobile steps that had been positioned near the aircraft.
Prior to the aircraft's arrival, ground personnel had been preparing the area. One crew member used a small tug to place the mobile steps adjacent to the stand, adjusting their height to align with the aircraft's doorway.
The investigation
The investigation established that while most stands at the airport featured white boundary lines, Stand 27 did not. The ground crew's internal procedures mandated that the stand be verified as clear before the AGNIS equipment was activated. During the preparation of the stand, the steps were placed in a position that the ground crew member believed was safe. However, the physical presence of the steps in the aircraft's path resulted in the collision during the final stages of parking.
Findings
- The collision occurred because the mobile steps were positioned within the path of the aircraft's wing.
- Stand 27 lacked the white boundary markings present at other airport stands.
- Ground crew members placed the steps in a location they judged to be safe, but which was actually in the trajectory of the wing tip.