What happened
On 22 October 1998, at approximately 14:20 UTC, a Boeing 757-236, registration G-BIKH, was parked at London Heathrow Airport. The aircraft was being prepared for a public transport flight, and the crew had recently boarded to perform initial pre-flight checks.
During these procedures, the commander experienced a physical impact against the airframe. In response to the jolt, the pilot deactivated the aircraft's electrical power and exited the flight deck to inspect the exterior. Upon inspection, the crew discovered that a belt baggage loading vehicle had collided with the aircraft. The impact was severe enough that the front wheels of the loader were lifted off the ground, and the forward section of the vehicle had penetrated the forward baggage hold.
The investigation
The investigation was initiated following an accident report submitted by the pilot. Investigators examined the damage to the aircraft and the positioning of the ground vehicle. The inspection revealed that the collision resulted in substantial damage to the forward cargo hold and the associated door. However, the investigation confirmed there were no signs of any fluid leaks originating from the aircraft following the impact.
Findings
- The collision was caused by the driver of the baggage loader failing to stop in time to avoid hitting the parked aircraft.