Event Description
On 5 September 2019, the Cessna 560 XL aircraft, registration OE-GES, was scheduled for a commercial flight from Malpensa Airport (LIMC) to Vienna Airport (LOWW) with 2 pilots and 3 passengers on board. Before departure, the aircraft was fueled with 6500 pounds of fuel. Push-back began at 20:31:40 from stand 353 in the SEA Prime parking area. At 20:46:46, the crew contacted ground control on 121.9 MHz and received taxi instructions via taxiways Papa, Yankee, Hotel to Charlie 1. The aircraft commenced taxiing on Taxiway P at 10-20 knots, then turned right onto Apron Taxiway Y, accelerating to 24 knots.
At 20:48:06, an electric baggage tractor traveling westward on a service road perpendicular to Taxiway Y struck the aircraft. The impact caused the tractor to overturn approximately 90 degrees to the left, sustaining substantial damage. The aircraft yawed about 110 degrees to the left and came to a stop on Taxiway Y with a magnetic heading of approximately 058 degrees. The left wing sustained severe structural damage. Following the impact, a large amount of fuel leaked from the left wing tank onto the ground.
At 20:48:28, the pilot-in-command reported on ground frequency, "OE-GES we've just hit something on Yankee." No injuries were reported among the aircraft occupants. The tractor driver sustained serious injuries and was hospitalized.
Aircraft and Personnel
The aircraft was a Cessna 560 XL, a twin-engine business jet manufactured by Cessna Aircraft Company, with a maximum takeoff mass of 9163 kg. It was powered by Pratt & Whitney PW545C engines. At the time of the incident, the aircraft had accumulated 3620 hours and 46 minutes of operation. The airworthiness certificate had been renewed on 19 November 2018, valid until 24 November 2019.
The flight crew consisted of a 59-year-old Austrian captain with an ATPL license and a 27-year-old Austrian first officer with a CPL license, both holding valid C560XL/XLS type ratings. The captain had 8245 total flight hours; the first officer had 1275. The baggage tractor driver was a 30-year-old Italian with valid airport operator and driving certifications, having completed basic and specific training since 2017.
Damage
The aircraft sustained structural damage to the left wing. The electric baggage tractor (Charlatte model T135) was completely destroyed.
Circumstances
The incident occurred on Taxiway Y at Malpensa Airport. At the time, Linate Airport was temporarily closed, causing increased traffic at Malpensa. This led to coordination between airport operator SEA and air traffic service provider ENAV via an operations letter dated 18 June 2019. The letter designated Area 300 as a Special Regulation Apron and assigned management to the Apron Operations Coordinator (COP). It required vehicles on the apron to give way to taxiing aircraft and follow designated service roads. In this event, coordination with COP had occurred and a follow-me vehicle released the aircraft onto Taxiway P before ground control directed it via Y-H-C1. The weather at the time included light rain, making the pavement wet.