Air carrier flight crew reported abruptly stopping during the taxi to takeoff due to an unlit barrier blocking the taxiway; as the flight crew had gone onto the wrong taxi route. Some of the flight attendants were injured from the sudden braking.
Synopsis
Air carrier flight crew reported abruptly stopping during the taxi to takeoff due to an unlit barrier blocking the taxiway; as the flight crew had gone onto the wrong taxi route. Some of the flight attendants were injured from the sudden braking.
Narrative
Two flight attendants hurt on taxi out. Returned to gate. Pushed back in ONT for late night departure. Upon call for taxi; controller instructed us to take Taxiway V and then N; cross 26R; closed runway; and hold short of 26L. I turned left on [Taxiway] N which is 'normal' but I was supposed to taxi right on N. 'Flight attendants be seated for departure;' announcement was made and Before-Takeoff Checklist complete. As turning corner onto [Taxiway] W to cross 26L; noticed unlit barrier blocking taxiway. Came to an abrupt stop; notified ATC; and agreed we had room for a turn to rejoin correct taxi route. Called back to forward FA (Flight Attendant) to double-check that everyone was OK and was informed that he had still been standing and may be injured. Agreed to return to gate and subsequently learned that an aft Flight Attendant might also be injured.Expectation bias to the 'usual' taxi route to the runway. Had flown the exact flight 1 week prior. Aware of the non-normal operation due to a runway closure but missed the recent additional taxiway closure; requiring an alternate route. It is a very short taxi; and I had briefed the flight attendants as such. The unlit barricade wasn't seen until the very last possible moment. I am very proactive in repeating taxi instructions to my flying partner. I thought I had repeated correctly. Very short taxi and task saturation; so completing pre-takeoff checks prior to taxi in this case would probably have helped. In addition; if the barrier had been illuminated we would have seen much sooner.
Second reporter narrative
We pushed back from Gate XX at about XA:42 local time. We were instructed to push tail east and the Ground pushed us tail west; which neither of us noticed. After engine start we were issued instructions to taxi N1 Uniform to cross 26L and hold short of 26R. We taxied instead straight ahead towards Taxiway W; after which the controller issued instructions to turn onto Taxiway V which we both commented was odd not yet realizing we'd gone the wrong direction. During this time the before takeoff flows and checklists were also being accomplished; including seating the flight attendants for departure. Very shortly after the Before-Takeoff Checklist; Captain saw an unlit barrier at Taxiway W and brought the aircraft to a quick stop. On the taxi back to the proper route for Runway 26R the Captain talked to the flight attendants who informed him 2 of them had been up and were injured so we did a gate return.To mitigate this type of incident in the future 2 items come to mind. On a short taxi accomplishing flight control checks and before takeoff items before taxiing would likely have mitigated this. Paying more careful attention to taxiway closure NOTAMs and which way they had pushed the aircraft as well. I will note that had the barriers been lit they would've been seen much sooner.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.