Flight Crew reported pushing back at a foreign airport and the Captain began taxiing with the ground personnel headset still connected to the aircraft.
Synopsis
Flight Crew reported pushing back at a foreign airport and the Captain began taxiing with the ground personnel headset still connected to the aircraft.
Narrative
We received push back clearance and startup clearance. After the second engine start; ground started asking when we would be ready for taxi. We told them just a minute. The Captain then verbalized clear left; set flaps 20; after start checklist. Once done we received taxi clearance. The Captain released the brakes and started aircraft movement. The Relief Pilot (IRO) immediately and loudly yelled STOP! STOP! STOP!' The Captain and I both got on the brakes and stopped the airplane. The aircraft only moved a few ft. Apparently the push crew unhooked the tug but there was one person still connected to the headset waiting to be cleared to disconnect. He quickly disconnected and ran to safety. The ground crew gave us hand gestures indicating all was OK and we were clear to taxi. The flight continued with no further incident. The Captain; IRO and I debriefed the situation once at cruise. We agreed that ZZZZ has many non-standard procedures for push back and ATC clearance that are not consistent with other European airports; and that ground giving us clearances during the push back process is a threat to safety. It requires all pilots to be extra slow and methodical in SOP compliance."
Second reporter narrative
As the Relief Pilot (IRO); I was in my seat monitoring ground frequency and flight interphone at the same time. We received push back and start from ground. We started both engines and the ground crew pushed us back onto taxiway for Runway XX and asked us to set brakes. The ground frequency was jammed with chatter as we completed pushback. After brakes; the tow bar was disconnected and the tow vehicle pulled away. Ground called us and asked how soon we can taxi because of coordination. The Captain called for After Start Checklist. Once completed; ground cleared us taxi. As the aircraft commenced moving forward; I heard on the flight interphone 'stop; stop; stop.' I shouted Stop Stop. The Captain immediately stopped the aircraft. I informed him I believed the ground crew was still connected to aircraft. When we looked outside; the ground crewmen was over on our left and gave us a thumbs up to taxi. He must have quickly disconnected and cleared the area. After take-off and at the appropriate time; we debriefed what had happened and review procedures and techniques to prevent this from happening again in congested international airport. For ZZZZ my recommendation is for Ground Controller to check in to ask confirm disconnect. Second a Ground Marshaller in Front of Aircraft with a stop signal to prevent us from taxiing without ground handler still being connected.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.