B787 flight crew reported the Captain suddenly stopped the aircraft to avoid a baggage cart crossing their path.
Synopsis
B787 flight crew reported the Captain suddenly stopped the aircraft to avoid a baggage cart crossing their path.
Narrative
After landing and during taxi-in; a tug with five or more baggage carts came dangerously close to aircraft. As I turned onto the ramp at ZZZ at Taxiway 1; I turned right to taxi to gate XXX. As I rounded the corner behind XXY; headed for the 2 taxi line; a baggage tug with at least 5 baggage carts in tow began to cross the ramp from right to left. I did not see it initially; and First Officer (FO); who was in the right seat alerted me of its presence. My taxi speed was less than 10 kts; and I began to apply brakes. The tug and carts did not seem to slow down so I applied maximum manual braking to stop the aircraft. The tug driver did not notice that he was in close enough proximity with the aircraft that a collision would occur until he was so close that he was below my field of vision from the left seat. He finally stopped; then backed up and eventually drove clear of the aircraft back to the right side of the taxiway and well clear of the aircraft and taxiway. The aircraft was stopped at that time. I began taxi when he was well off the taxiway and into the cart parking area east of the terminal to gate XXX. The incident was immediately reported to ramp control over VHF ramp frequency.This incident was very close to a collision; and possible ingestion into the #2 engine. If such event occurred; there would have been significant equipment and aircraft damage; probable injury to the driver of the tug; and possible loss of life. The driver seemed to have been looking at a phone or some hand held device as he was crossing the taxiway. Because of the vigilance of the crew; especially FO in immediately alerting me of the threat presence; no one was hurt and no damage occurred.
Second reporter narrative
On taxi inbound to XXX; we were given a [Taxiway] 1 entry. We turned right onto line 3 then 2 entry line into the XXX gate area. There are multiple taxi lines and gates in this area. Both the Captain and I cleared the area and confirmed both the taxi line was correct and looked left to verify XXX as our inbound line to the gate. I then saw movement out of the corner of my eye. There was a ramper starring at his phone while driving a train of baggage carts. I immediately told the Captain to stop the aircraft while simultaneously reaching for the brakes myself. The Captain did an amazing job immediately bringing the aircraft to a safe stop. There was zero hesitation or question on his part; and this was integral to keeping both the aircraft damage free; but more importantly that ramp worker safe. I made eye contact with the driver once he looked up and was startled by our 787 being in front of him. He was within our wing span; or at least appeared to be so we were just a few seconds from that ending badly. He was stopped and actually waved to us; as if we could keep taxiing. I gestured that he needed to turn around and drive off the taxiway; as I didn't feel that he was a safe distance from the aircraft. He complied. We then taxied to the gate without further incident.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.