What happened
On the morning of 13 October 2021, a Bombardier BD-700-1A10 (Global 6000), registration 9H-VJM, was taxiing through the Echo security gate at O.R. Tambo International Aerodrome (FAOR) for an international flight to Dubai. The aircraft was following another plane, ZS-AAK, which had successfully requested and received permission from the ACSA gate controller to pass through the gate.
As the 9H-VJM approached the gate, the crew attempted to follow the preceding aircraft through the opening. However, the motorized gate had already begun its closing sequence. Although the crew attempted to veer to the left to avoid the obstacle, the gate continued to move for 11 seconds before striking the aircraft. The impact occurred on the right-wing leading-edge number 2 slat, resulting in substantial damage to the aircraft. No injuries were reported among the crew.
The investigation
The SACAA AIID investigation examined the communication protocols and the mechanical state of the gate infrastructure. Investigators found that the crew did not follow standard operating procedures, as they failed to contact the ACSA gate controller to request permission for passage. Furthermore, the investigation identified that the gate was not being actively monitored at the moment the aircraft approached.
Technical inspections revealed that the safety beams, designed to stop the gate if an obstruction is detected, were inoperative. Additionally, a power failure in the area had caused the Denel Campus traffic light to malfunction, and there were no visible warning signs instructing pilots to contact gate control on a specific VHF frequency before proceeding.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was the collision between the motorized gate and the aircraft while the crew was attempting to pass through the gate.
- The crew failed to communicate their intentions or seek clearance from the ACSA/Echo gate control centre.
- The crew faced a high workload due to the requirement to manage five different frequency channels when moving from the FBO to the Echo gate.
- Multiple safety barriers failed simultaneously, including the inoperative safety beams and the lack of instructional signage.
Safety action
Following the investigation, several recommendations were made to prevent a recurrence, including:
- Keeping the Echo gate in an open position or deploying additional security guards.
- Installing clear, visible signage at the gate instructing pilots to contact ACSA gate control on VHF 122.65 MHz.
- Empowering security guards to use the Emergency Stop (E-STOP) button if they witness a potential risk.
- Improving the visibility of the gate for controllers and providing access to live CCTV feeds.