Ground personnel reported the tow bar disconnected from the aircraft during pushback and their headset broke; resulting in the aircraft rolling uncommanded until it stopped on its own.

Date: 2024-11 · Aircraft: A321 · Phase: taxi

Anomalies: ground-event-encounter-ground-equipment-issue|ground-event-encounter-loss-of-aircraft-control

Synopsis

Ground personnel reported the tow bar disconnected from the aircraft during pushback and their headset broke; resulting in the aircraft rolling uncommanded until it stopped on its own.

Narrative

Gate XX is down so we were tasked to Gate XY to push. Crew chief told us we're loading and pushing with air start. I walked out of Gate XY gatehouse and everything was already hooked up. After loading; Gate XY crew chief came out and took his bag from the huff and I saw my crew chief argue with Gate XY crew chief over the bag. Gate XY crew chief gave me the pin and I put it back into the plane and the tow bar was still connected and visually looked at the handle pin for the tow bar. The tire was high and I lowered it. After air start clearance we pushed. Pushing tail south; the tow bar disconnected as I was steering south and headset broke. And the plane slowly rolling and stop on its own. Went back to gate to crew chief but he wasn't there. Went to Gate XX to get his headset came back to Gate XY and customer service manager was present and pilot stated maintenance on way. They check it was clear no damage to tow bar or plane and plane took off.Cause: I don't know. Went back to gate to the crew chief but he wasn't there. Went to gate XX to get his headset came back to Gate XY and customer service manager was present and pilot stated maintenance on way. They check it was clear no damage to tow bar or plane and plane took off.

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Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.