What happened
On 27 May 1999, at approximately 20:50 UTC, a BAe 146, registration HB-IVY, was positioned at London Heathrow Airport for a public transport operation. During the process of loading luggage into the aircraft's rear hold, an electric tug was being used to transport bags to the vehicle.
While the driver attempted to decelerate the tug, their foot slipped from the brake pedal. This resulted in the tug continuing its forward momentum, ultimately colliding with the aircraft. The impact caused a puncture to the aft fuselage.
The investigation
An investigation was conducted by the Airfield Operations Safety Unit. The inquiry focused on the movement of the electric tug and the actions of the driver during the baggage transfer process. The investigation established that the collision occurred because the driver failed to maintain control of the braking mechanism during the approach to the aircraft.