What happened
On 20 February 2002, an Airbus A3/21-231, registration G-TTIA, was conducting a passenger flight to Tangiers Airport. During the descent, a young child in the cabin was causing significant distress, screaming continuously and resisting being seated. This behavior led to a passenger in row 29 exchanging seats with the child in row 30.
In an effort to ensure the cabin was secure, the assistant purser intervened to re-strap the child. Following this, the purser informed the captain of the cabin instability. While the crew attempted to re-secure the area, the passenger in seat 30C suddenly stood up and leaned over the seat in front of them. Fearing the child might be released, the assistant purser rushed forward to intervene. As the crew member attempted to return to their seat, the aircraft made a very firm landing. The sudden impact caused the cabin floor to strike the crew member's left foot while it was mid-stride, resulting in a serious compound fracture.
The investigation
The investigation examined the sequence of events involving the passenger's movement and the crew's response. It was noted that while the assistant purser acted to address a safety-related incident, the action took place during the landing phase. The investigation also looked into the medical response on board, noting that the injured crew member's position initially blocked access to the onboard medical kit. Furthermore, the adequacy of the emergency medical equipment in the responding land ambulance was noted.
Findings
- The assistant purser's decision to leave their seat to address the passenger was motivated by a perceived safety risk, but the action exposed the crew member to physical danger during landing.
- The landing of the Airbus A321-231 was notably heavy, which directly caused the injury.
- The placement of the first aid kit was such that the injured crew member obstructed access to it.
- Company manuals regarding cabin crew seating and safety responses required reinforcement to ensure crew members balance individual safety interventions with their ability to perform evacuation duties.