Flight Details
The aircraft, a McDonnell Douglas MD-82 registered YV2923, was parked at remote stand 6-B at Simón Bolívar International Airport (SVMI), Vargas, Venezuela. It was preparing to operate flight 902 from SVMI to Santiago Mariño International Airport (SVMG).
Sequence of Events
At 13:08 UTC on 24 April 2014, the pilot in command received taxi clearance from Maiquetía ground control and visual clearance from the ramp coordinator. The aircraft began taxiing using both engines, following the taxiway centerline, and subsequently initiated a left turn. A passenger transport vehicle (plate MLF14Y), operated by the ground handling department of LASER C.A., was parked on the ramp at the instruction of the ramp coordinator, positioned on the demarcation line adjacent to the taxiway between platform 4-B. During the turn, the tip of the left wing slat number 5 struck the vehicle's windshield frame. The ramp coordinator immediately instructed the aircraft to stop. The aircraft was then towed back to its original parking position, and passengers disembarked.
Damage
The aircraft sustained minor structural damage to the leading edge of the left wing, specifically deformation and separation of skin on slat number 5, along with rivet loss. The passenger vehicle suffered rupture of the windshield frame structure and the left windshield.
Injuries
No injuries were reported among the 6 crew members, 161 passengers, or other personnel.