What happened
On the night of September 5, 2019, a Cessna 560 XL, registration OE-GES, was performing a commercial passenger flight from Malpensa Airport (LIMC) to Vienna (LOWW). The flight was operated by Jet 24 GmbH with two pilots and three passengers on board.
After completing push-back operations from stand 353, the crew received taxi instructions from ground control to proceed via taxiway P to taxiway Y and then to Charlie 1. As the aircraft was taxiing along taxiway Y at approximately 24 knots, an electric baggage tractor, traveling on a service road perpendicular to the taxiway, struck the aircraft's left wing.
The impact caused the aircraft to veer sharply to the left, coming to a complete stop. The collision resulted in severe structural damage to the left wing semi-span and caused a significant fuel leak from the wing tank. While the occupants of the Cessna 560 XL were uninjured, the driver of the tractor sustained serious injuries and was hospitalized. The baggage tractor was destroyed.
The investigation
The ANSV investigation examined flight data recorder (FDR) and cockpit voice recorder (CVR) data, airport CCTV footage, and witness statements. The FDR confirmed the aircraft was following the assigned taxi route and had correctly read back instructions. CCTV footage showed both the aircraft and the tractor proceeding on their respective paths until the moment of impact.
The investigation also reviewed the operational procedures in place at the time. Due to the temporary closure of Linate Airport, Malpensa was experiencing increased traffic, which had led to specific coordination procedures between the airport operator (SEA) and air traffic services (ENAV) for the designated parking area.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the failure of the tractor driver to yield to the taxiing aircraft in accordance with established airport priority procedures.
- The driver failed to stop at the designated stop sign at the end of the service road.
- Contributing factors included self-induced haste by the driver, who was attempting to retrieve a different passenger stair for a recently arrived flight.
- Environmental factors, such as complex lighting conditions at the airport, may have hindered the driver's ability to clearly perceive the taxiing aircraft's lights.