What happened
On 3 November 1998, at approximately 12:05 UTC, a Boeing 737-33A, registration G-OBMH, was stationary at Stand C14 at London Heathrow Airport. The aircraft was engaged in a public transport operation, and at the time of the incident, the majority of the 10 passengers had already disembarked the aircraft via the airbridge.
During this period, an unmanned baggage truck, which was pulling two trailers, moved into the aircraft. The vehicle struck the Boeing 737-33A at a point located to the rear of the left wing root. The impact resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage skin and the wing fairing. Following the collision, emergency services were notified and arrived at the scene to assess the situation. There were no reports of fuel leaks, and the remaining passengers were safely evacuated using the airbridge. There were no injuries to the 6 crew members or the passengers on board.
The investigation
Investigators examined the movement of the baggage truck and the condition of the vehicle following the impact. The investigation focused on why the vehicle had moved while unattended. Upon inspection of the baggage truck, it was discovered that the hand brake had been left in the off position.