Incident Overview
On Wednesday, 19 October 2022, a Boeing 777-260LR with registration ET-ANN, operating Ethiopian Airlines flight ET847, departed Addis Ababa Bole International Aerodrome (HAAB) in Ethiopia for Cape Town International Aerodrome (FACT) in South Africa. The aircraft carried 13 crew members and 305 passengers. It landed on Runway 01 at 1148Z and was allocated parking bay Alpha 3 (A3).
Sequence of Events
A marshaller and a trainee marshaller were dispatched to parking bay A3 by the apron office (AO). Upon arrival, a ramp agent informed them that the Advance Visual Docking Guidance System (AVDGS) displayed information for a Boeing 787-900, while the aircraft that had landed was a Boeing 777-200. The ramp agent stated that the AVDGS needed correction by the AO, but the system was not updated. The marshaller chose to guide the aircraft to the nose wheel docking marker intended for a Boeing 777-300, which is 10.2 metres (33.5 feet) longer than the Boeing 777-200. Before the aircraft came to a stop, the top section of the No.1 engine inlet cowling impacted the passenger airbridge, which was parked in parking circle 2.
No persons were injured. The aircraft was grounded for inspection and repairs, and the passenger airbridge was taken out of service due to damage to its motion sensors.
Damage
The aircraft sustained minor damage. The passenger airbridge required replacement of several motion sensors.
Probable Cause
The aircraft was marshalled to the incorrect nose wheel docking marking, leading to the No.1 engine inlet cowling top section impacting the passenger airbridge.