2024-06 · NASA ASRS report 2146897
Air carrier flight crew reported two cargo items with incomplete documents were loaded on to the aircraft prior to departure. The next day the flight crew was notified that the added items were hazmat cargo and the flight was not approved to transport it.
Aircraft was parked in ZZZ; ready for pushback for a flight to ZZZ1. Just prior to commencing pushback; the ground crew advises that 2 Company X packages will be loaded onto the aircraft. The forward cargo door was opened and the additional cargo was loaded. After this occurred; CA queried the ground crew asking the weight of the additional cargo as it seemed the ground crew were not able to send this information via the automatic system. After a few minutes; the ground crew advised that each pack was 2 pounds. No other information was provided. After modifying the load sheet; new takeoff data was obtained; pushback commenced; with the remainder of the flight being uneventful. The following day; the CA was advised that a report was received indicating that the cargo loaded onto this flight was potentially a Class 7 hazardous material; which is in clear violation of the hazardous materials program; as this is not accepted for transport on Company Y aircraft. Had this information been presented by the ground crew during the loading of the cargo; these items would have not been accepted.
We were getting ready for an on time push back at ZZZ. Before we called for push a ground crew member said that there were two extra company boxes that were going to be placed in the forward baggage compartment of the plane. We asked him how much they weighed and then added the weight to the flight. The ground crew gave no indication that there was anything in either box that would not be allowed on the flight. Furthermore; since this was not an unusual occurrence. We simply said 'thank you'; 'how much do they weigh' and moved on with the push back. The next day the Captain got a call that one or both of the boxes contained radio active material and was not allowed on Company Y planes. This was the first time that we were informed of this. Had the ground crew alerted us that the boxes contained radio active materials we would have refused them.In the future I will make sure and question the ground crew about any last minute boxes that arrive just prior to push back.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.
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