History of the Flight
The aircraft, operating flight FR-6399 from Sevilla, was parked at position 101 of Terminal 2 at Barcelona Airport. Passengers were disembarking through the finger (air bridge) when, at approximately 20:30 UTC, a flight attendant noticed unusual movement of the aircraft's nose. The flight crew, who were completing the checklist, confirmed that the aircraft was being lifted by the finger connected to door L1. They instructed remaining passengers to sit and fasten seat belts. Seconds later, door L1 collapsed, and the aircraft's nose fell from an estimated height of 2 meters, striking the nose gear. The remaining passengers were evacuated via the rear door.
Injuries and Damage
Two passengers reported injuries: one with a knee injury, another showing signs of anxiety. Medical assistance arrived within two minutes and attended to them at the aircraft steps. The left front door L1, its hinges, and opening/closing arms broke and collapsed under the weight of the aircraft's frontal section. An inspection of the nose gear and tail cone revealed no damage. The air bridge sustained a broken cabin swivel chain, a bent swivel floor, and damage to the safety shoe.
Personnel and Aircraft Information
The captain, aged 30, held an ATPL(A) issued by the Irish Aviation Authority, with 7,400 hours total (6,200 on type). The co-pilot, aged 24, held a CPL(A) with 350 hours total (50 on type). The aircraft was a Boeing 737-800 (registration EI-DLR, serial number 737-33596) manufactured in 2006, powered by two CFM 56-7B engines.
Investigation Findings
The incident was attributed to the combination of a failure of the electrovalve in the hydraulic elevation circuit and a modification to the activation interval of the pump in the self-leveling system. These changes had been made during a renovation of the fingers at Barcelona Airport months prior. Two safety recommendations were issued to Barcelona Airport and the UTE that performed the renovations.