Air carrier augmented crew reported a near collision while taxiing for takeoff. The crew indicated another aircraft taxiing at high speed required the Captain to immediately apply brakes sharply causing multiple flight attendant injuries and a return to the gate for medical assistance.
Synopsis
Air carrier augmented crew reported a near collision while taxiing for takeoff. The crew indicated another aircraft taxiing at high speed required the Captain to immediately apply brakes sharply causing multiple flight attendant injuries and a return to the gate for medical assistance.
Narrative
Ground Control issued taxi clearance to RWY XXR via [Taxiway] 1; hold short [Taxiway] 2. Single engine; eastbound taxi was initiated on Taxiway 3. Aircraft Z was parked at Gate Y obscuring Taxiway 1 to the north. Approaching the hold line at 3 and 1; the Captain (CA) and flying first officer (FO) were assessing ground traffic to the south and discussing the timing of starting the right engine. As our aircraft crossed the hold line from 3 to 1 the Relief Pilot (RP) simultaneously said Stop" while pointing forward. An Aircraft was rapidly closing from the left on Taxiway 1 requiring immediate action to avoid a collision. Our aircraft was stopped abruptly. The RP reported that he thought he heard an ATC transmission: Company XXX; give way the Aircraft Y immediately followed by Company XXX; stop! This is when the Relief Pilot saw the Aircraft Y and pointed and verbalized stop. The CA and FO did not here an ATC transmission. After the Aircraft Y cleared; taxi was continued on 1. The CA directed the Relief Pilot to call the cabin and assess flight attendant condition. Most were conducting safety checks and in the aisles when the aircraft was stopped. At a minimum; all flight attendants were knocked off balance; however; some were knocked to the floor. One Flight Attendant reported lacerations on her arm and back due to a fall. Another Flight Attendant was reported to be on the floor with rib pain. Return to the gate was coordinated. Paramedics were requested; and met the aircraft. One flight attendant was unable to perform subsequent duties due to injury.There seemed to be a lack of urgency to get us to the gate both by ATC Ramp control and ground personnel even though we requested paramedics. We waited several minutes on the taxiway; giving way to two outbound Aircraft Z; and then waited about 10 minutes on ground personnel to park at the gate. Glad the injuries were not life-threatening."
Second reporter narrative
I was the Relief Pilot on the 3-man crew. We finished our push from Gate X in ZZZ for and started a Single Engine Taxi-out. Once the push crew gave us the salute and we completed the After Start Checklist; the First Officer called for taxi with Ramp. Ramp gave us [Taxiway] 3 short of [Taxiway] 1 and contact Ground on XXX.X. The CA and FO cleared Left and Right. As we started to roll forward the First Officer called Ground and told them we were approaching Spot XX with the ATIS. After some congestion on the Ground Frequency and a blocked call; Ground gave us the clearance of Taxi to XXR via 1 hold short of 2". The CA reviewed the Taxi instructions out loud with the crew. At this point we were coming up on Taxiway 1 but could not yet see to our Left (North portion of 1) because of a Aircraft Z parked at an angle at Gate Y. The CA looked to his right and stated it was clear and then noticed there was a short line of Aircraft for XXR and discussed with the FO about starting the Right Engine. At no point was the FO heads down. As they were having this short discussion; I heard Ground say; "Give way to the Aircraft Y from your Left on 1; STOP!". In the middle of Ground saying this; I started to look to the left while announcing to the rest of the crew "I think Ground said give way to Aircraft Y on our Left"; at that point I saw Aircraft Y taxiing at a fast pace (about 25-30 kts) Southbound on 1. I then pointed out the Aircraft Y to the rest of the crew while loudly saying "STOP!". This all happened within a few seconds of each other. At this point the nose of our aircraft had barely crossed the line onto 1 and we were only taxiing about 5-10 kts. The CA looked to his Left and saw the Aircraft Y and slammed on the brakes. A few seconds after we came to a stop the wing of the Aircraft Y passed anywhere between 5-10 feet from our windscreen. After we stopped the CA and I agreed we should call to the back and check on the flight attendants. I called the FWD Galley and I asked the FA who answered if everyone was OK. She responded; "I am ok except I have Champagne all over me; I am ok" I then asked if everyone else was OK; which she responded "Yes; I think so". I told her to call us if not. I told the CA that the FA had spilt champagne on herself; but she was OK; and she thought the rest of the crew was ok. We decided to continue to Taxi. Ground at this point gave us 1 short of [Taxiway] 4. As we made the right turn onto 1; we received a Cabin Call. I answered and the FA advised me that she thought we may have some injuries to some Flight Attendants but did not have all the details yet. I told her we would go back to the gate and to let me know of the severity of the injuries. I advised the CA; and we decided to go back to the gate. I called operations and let them know the situation and that we needed a gate; he asked if we needed paramedics. Since I didn't know the severity of the injuries; I told him "Yea; why not send them out". We were given our original gate of X; the FO coordinated with Ground to go back to [Gate] X. The CA asked the FO to do an After Landing Flow to clean up the aircraft for our return to the gate. Ground had us give way to some other traffic before we could enter the ramp. Once the traffic was clear we were told to contact ramp. Once we were on the Ramp; we received another Cabin Call. I answered and this time the FA (a different FA from the previous 2 calls) had more details on the injuries. She said they had 3 injuries; a FA in the Aft Galley fell and hurt her Ribs; the Lead FA had fallen back 3 Rows; hit her Left Elbow and Back and was bleeding from both areas. The last injury was to herself and that she had hit her arm which now hurt but she was going to be OK. I relayed that information to the CA. We had to wait for 2 company Aircraft to clear and then we were cleared to the Gate. When we got close to [Gate] X we realized that we had no rampers. I called operations again and asked about rampers. Operations advised me they were trying to find some rampers to park us. I then advised him again that we had flight attendants that were injured and needed to get back to the gate quickly. I then made sure they had a Jetway driver and paramedics ready since I didn't see an ambulance on the ramp area. He advised me that they had a gate agent; supervisor and Paramedics ready. He wanted to know the injured FA names. Since we didn't want to give out the information over the Operation Frequency; we asked for the phone number to Operations. Since we were waiting on the ramp; with the Parking Brake Set; and the FO and I monitoring Ramp and Operations Frequencies the CA called Operations to give them the injured FA's names. Once the CA was done with the phone call; the rampers had just started to walk out. Just as we were ready to start taxiing the rest of the way to the gate; Ramp asked us if the rampers were ready because she wanted to push the Aircraft X at Gate Y. We advised her again that we had injuries onboard and the rampers were getting into position. She then held the Aircraft X and told us to continue to the gate. It did not seem like Operations or Ramp had any sense of urgency to get us to the gate to have Paramedics tend to our FA's. The rampers then Parked us; we completed the Parking Checklist; and opened the cockpit door. The Lead FA came up and showed us her bleeding elbow; but said she wanted to continue on the trip. Once the jetway was connected to the aircraft; the paramedics came on board and attended to the injured FA's. While that was going on we started to debrief. We reviewed the sequence of events; and all agreed the tail of the Aircraft X parked at Gate Y blocked our view of the north part of 1; the Taxi instructions from Ground never included any traffic information such as "Give way" or "Taxi After". We also discussed that the single engine taxi was a factor since we got distracted when we looked right and saw few aircraft at XXR; which started the discussion for starting the Right Engine. After the Debrief the FO sent a Return to Gate ACARS message/set up for another departure; I called for Fuel/did an Exterior inspection; and the CA went to talk with the FA's and Gate Agent. Shortly after this we were taken off the trip and left the aircraft."
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.