A319 ramp crew reported damage to the engine cowling due to contact with jetbridge during gate parking procedure.
Synopsis
A319 ramp crew reported damage to the engine cowling due to contact with jetbridge during gate parking procedure.
Narrative
We had just finished two back to back turns went inside to check schedule which seen we had a third inbound flight; the supervisor said we have 20 minutes before it gets here; I go to fix cereal and the supervisor says Aircraft X ZZZ is on the ground. I go to gate so we can bring it in. When I get there the plane is on the lead in line past the roadway.Two wing walkers are already in position so I take it on myself to bring the plane in. Approaching the gate it looked like the body of a A-321 however it was dark at the time and my regular shift is start so I don't work night inbounds. I started bringing it in; while wing walkers continued holding the all clear up. As it got closer to A-321 stop blocks I slowed down the plane thinking it looks like it's closer than what a A-321 should be at the time the engine cauling struck the jet bridge. The plane was chocked then I immediately called management to inform them of the incident. I realized once I looked at the engine and seen it made contact with the jet-bridge. This was right before the A-321 stop blocks where I was planning to stop the aircraft There was a lack of communication from the supervisor regarding the flight info; Ex - no briefing. Wing walkers continued to show all clear throughout the incident. I mistakenly believed the plane was a A-321; it was night and the ramp isn't lit super well for identifying aircraft. Another factor is our team had just worked two turns and by the time we got inside the flight was pretty much on the ground; causing an emotional rush in us to hurry and park it to get the passengers to the destination. I immediately called management; I believe other team members called/radioed for them to come. Maintenance quickly arrived at the scene and assessed the situation. As well as other curious fleet service employees. Pictures of the damage were taken by management. Never again bring in a plane without a Team briefing describing each role; as well as stay safe and remember it's better that the plane stay on the taxiway than make a collision. Also better lighting on the ramp would be helpful for the conditions at that time. Teach others through my faults the incidents that can occur if we aren't working safe and mindful of the dangers around us. As the greatest lessons are always connected with the greatest trials.
Second reporter narrative
My just finished a turn and had about 20 minutes to spare for a RON coming in Aircraft X; I went inside to a manager to find out who's on my crew due to I was losing an agent at XA:00 and gaining another one at XA:00. The manager told me that the XA:00 off clerk was going to be on my team the remainder of the night so I went and informed him that he is going to be on my team for the rest of the night and that Aircraft X had just landed and told the other team members that Aircraft X was on the ground. I just finished using the bathroom and I told the team that Aircraft X was on Taxiway 1 I went to retrieve my wands and change the battery on my scanner when I got outside; the plane was already parked; but I noticed the aircraft was too far on the lead in line. I walked closer to the aircraft and noticed that the engine cow had struck the jet bridge and I immediately informed managementWhen I got outside to [Taxiway] 1; I noticed the aircraft was father in the gate than it should have been when I got outside. I walked closer to the aircraft to examine if the engine hit the jet bridge in which it did.The event occurred due to the marshaling agent assumed it was An airbus 321 but was an Airbus 319 and struck the airbridgeAs the Supervisor I notified management; and then I went and notified maintenance once maintenance went and observed the damage we the crew had to hook up a pushback to maneuver the aircraft to the correct position on the lead in line for a 319 airbusThe suggestion I can give is to tell the crew what type of aircraft it is and or have the crew wait for the supervisor to arrive at the gate for a briefing
More incidents for this aircraft family →
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.