What happened
On April 14, 2011, at approximately 08:30 UTC, a Ryanair Boeing 737-800, registration EI-EKB, was taxiing on taxiway K toward the runway 25L holding point at Barcelona Airport. An American Airlines Boeing 767-300, registration N366AA, was stationary at holding position G3. To reach its assigned position at G1, the Ryanair aircraft had to maneuver behind the stationary American Airlines jet.
During the maneuver, the Ryanair captain attempted to maintain separation by deviating slightly from the taxiway centerline. The pilot instructed the copilot to monitor the distance, and at one point, the captain even physically checked the separation from the cockpit window. Despite these efforts, the right winglet of the Boeing 737-800 struck the left outboard section of the Boeing 767-300's horizontal stabilizer.
Following the contact, the Ryanair crew believed they had successfully maintained clearance. However, several passengers observed the impact and reported it to the cabin crew. The flight crew, believing the report was isolated and having visually confirmed separation, continued the flight to Ibiza. The damage was only discovered during a subsequent pre-flight walk-around in Ibiza, where the crew noted scratches on the winglet. The American Airlines aircraft subsequently required removal from service for repairs to its stabilizer.