Incident Overview
On 2 November 2021 at 07:01 local time (00:01 UTC), an Airbus A321NX registered as VN-A222, operated by Bamboo Airways as flight QH1621 from Hanoi Noi Bai to Phu Quoc, was being pushed back from parking position 72 to taxi lane W11. During the pushback, the left elevator of VN-A222 collided with the upper fuselage above the cockpit of a parked Airbus A321NEO (VN-A590) at position 73A. Both aircraft belong to Bamboo Airways. The weather at the time was overcast, light wind, 6000m visibility in light rain, temperature 21°C.
Timeline of Events
- 06:55: Doors closed; the certifying staff (CRS) performed final external safety check and handed over pushback control to the technician (MECH).
- 06:57:48: Flight crew contacted apron control requesting pushback and engine start.
- 06:57:54: Apron control cleared pushback to W11 with nose north.
- 06:58:13: MECH confirmed with crew and instructed tow truck driver to push north.
- 06:58:43: Pushback began; MECH moved alongside tow truck, monitoring.
- 06:59:13: Engine 2 started.
- 07:00:08: Tow truck driver stopped after noticing another aircraft behind; at that moment, the left elevator had already struck VN-A590.
- 07:01:28: Crew reported flight control left elevator fault to MECH. Subsequent communications revealed the crew attempted resets and consulted MEL, confirming a NO GO item.
- 07:05:48: Crew requested return to parking; aircraft was towed back to position 72 by 07:13:44.
Aircraft Damage
- VN-A222: Left elevator trailing edge dented (344 x 25 x 15 mm), a 50 mm crack on lower forward area, and hydraulic fluid leakage at the elevator servo control actuator.
- VN-A590: Fuselage dent above cockpit between frames FR4-FR8 (300 x 100 x 5 mm) with paint scratches; structural integrity unaffected.
Investigation and Findings
The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) investigated. All personnel held valid licenses and were properly rested. Weather was not a factor. Equipment was serviceable. The investigation determined that the pushback controller (MECH) did not ensure a safe distance between the moving aircraft and the parked one before or during the pushback. Additionally, the certifying staff (CRS) did not perform the required duties, delegating all pushback control to the MECH and waiting in a vehicle without monitoring or maintaining communication.
Probable Cause
The direct cause of the incident was that the pushback controller (MECH) did not check the safe distance between aircraft VN-A222 and adjacent aircraft VN-A590 before and during the pushback, and the certifying staff (CRS) did not fulfill duties by delegating all pushback control to the MECH and waiting in a vehicle without monitoring or maintaining communication.