What happened
On 5 May 1999, a Boeing 757-236, registration G-BMRH, was parked at Stand C24 at London Heathrow Airport undergoing preparations for a public transport flight. While the crew and 109 passengers were already on board, the commander was alerted to damage sustained by the aircraft's fuselage.
Upon inspecting the area near the rear cargo hold door, the commander identified a dent in the fuselage skin which contained a visible split. At the time of the discovery, a baggage loading vehicle remained positioned against the aircraft. The damage appeared to have been caused by the vehicle's conveyor-belt guardrail making contact with the aircraft structure.
The investigation
An investigation conducted by the Heathrow police established that the collision occurred while the driver of the baggage loading vehicle was attempting to maneuver the unit to the left. This movement was intended to create enough clearance to allow the cargo hold door to be closed.
While the commander initially considered that slippery conditions due to rain might have contributed to the incident, the police investigation determined that the apron surface was in good condition and was not contaminated by substances such as spilled fuel. Following the discovery of the structural damage, the aircraft was removed from service to undergo necessary repairs.