Ramp Agent reported the tow bar was inadvertently not connected during pushback resulting in an aircraft breakaway before another ramper was able to chock the nose and pilots re-set the brakes.
Synopsis
Ramp Agent reported the tow bar was inadvertently not connected during pushback resulting in an aircraft breakaway before another ramper was able to chock the nose and pilots re-set the brakes.
Narrative
2 days out of training. Before departure; I made sure to follow standard procedure of removing the ground power; putting bypass pin and hooking up tow bar. When I moved the tow bar up to the landing gear; I remembered to put the bypass pin in before the tow bar so I put the bypass pin in first but then forgot to hook up the tow bar so when it was time to remove the chocks and release the brakes; I noticed that the plane was moving backwards without the tow bar being attached to the nose landing gear. I did not remember what to say to the pilot when it happened because I panicked and yelled out to my lead. I did not remember or recall to tell the pilot 'break away'. My lead then quickly chocked the nose landing gear as it was moving so when he did; it turned left. The pilot then asked why the plane moved backwards. I told the pilot that the tow bar was not hooked up and to re-set the brakes. After that; the ramp supervisor was called along with the maintenance who then told the pilot that he could straighten the nose landing gear by turning it back to a straight position.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.