What happened
On 16 December 1997, at approximately 10:53 UTC, a Boeing 737-548, registration EI-CDS, was stationary at Stand N90 at London (Heathrow) Airport. At the time of the incident, the aircraft was undergoing routine refueling and loading procedures, and the flight crew had not yet boarded the plane. During these ground operations, a small tug, which was pulling a series of baggage trucks, attempted to position the vehicles near the forward cargo hold. While maneuvering, the driver of the tug misjudged a turn, resulting in a low-speed collision between the tug and the aircraft's right engine cowling. The impact caused a 3-inch split in the cowling structure.
The investigation
Information regarding the incident was provided via an accident report form submitted by the police. The investigation focused on the movement of the ground vehicle and the positioning of the baggage trucks relative to the parked aircraft. It was established that the aircraft was being serviced for a public transport flight and that the damage was localized to the engine casing.