What happened
On September 19, 2024, at approximately 08:38 local time, an Airbus A330-343 landed on runway 07R at Frankfurt Main Airport. While taxiing toward parking position C13 via various taxiways, the crew was forced to briefly decelerate to a near standstill due to traffic congestion.
As the aircraft began to accelerate again to complete its movement into the parking position, the thrust from engine number 1 created a jet blast that impacted a cargo trailer located at the nearby parking position V130. The blast caused an unsecured cargo sheet to be lifted from the trailer and thrown approximately 10 meters through the air. The sheet struck the concrete surface and slid roughly 22 meters from its original location.
During the incident, a ground worker engaged in loading operations sustained one minor injury after being struck by dust kicked up by the moving sheet. No damage was sustained by the aircraft, though the cargo sheet itself suffered slight damage, and a piece of cargo shielding on a nearby trailer was also slightly impacted.
The investigation
The BFU investigation focused on the sequence of ground movements and the positioning of equipment on the apron. Investigators established that the cargo trailer in question was not parked in a designated parking area at the time of the event. Furthermore, the investigation confirmed that the cargo sheet was not properly secured to the trailer.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was the unsecured nature of the cargo sheet on the trailer.
- The cargo trailer was positioned outside of its designated parking area.
- The jet blast from the single operating engine of the Airbus A300-343 provided the force necessary to displace the unsecured material.