A320 flight crew reported that a gate agent opened the armed aircraft door and partially deployed the escape slide. Maintenance was called and aircraft had to be swapped.
Synopsis
A320 flight crew reported that a gate agent opened the armed aircraft door and partially deployed the escape slide. Maintenance was called and aircraft had to be swapped.
Narrative
Operating Flight ABC ZZZ-ZZZ1; we were placed on a gate hold for connecting passengers. A few minutes later; the gate agent came to the cockpit and informed us that everyone is onboard; closed the door and removed the jet-bridge approximately 10 minutes prior the gate hold time. Via the app we received a message that there were 3 passengers still in the gate area. We believed the message was from another gate agent informing the app that the 3 passengers were part of the gate hold so we contacted operations to confirm. While coordinating with operations; the gate agent appeared in the jet-bridge and began moving it back to the aircraft. We immediately checked the status of the doors and determined the doors were stilled armed. We contacted the lead flight attendant to inform them the jet-bridge is being connected to the aircraft and that the doors need to be disarmed. We returned to the discussion with operation and moments later were informed that the main cabin door had been opened while still armed and the emergency slide had partially deployed. We immediately assessed if anyone was injured and determined there were no injuries. We then contacted maintenance to inform them of the situation and they sent a team of technicians to secure the slide from further deploying and fully opened the door. Maintenance told us that the aircraft needed to be swapped and we contacted dispatch and the Chief Pilot to inform them of the situation. Once we were assured that our crew was safe and passengers were being accommodated; we were able to determine that the message in the app actually came from a flight attendant that was not assigned to the flight.
Second reporter narrative
We were operating Flight ABC ZZZ-ZZZ1. Just prior to pushback after the jet bridge was already removed from the airplane; we were informed of a customer service issue from a message in the app; that would require the jet bridge to be reattached to resolve. While I was coordinating with operations on the radio; we noticed the jet bridge was in motion towards the airplane. The captain quickly called the flight attendants and advised them that we would be reopening the door and to disarm all doors. Moments later; we were advised by a flight attendant that door 1L was not disarmed when it was opened; and the emergency slide had partially deployed. We immediately assessed the situation for injuries; and determined there were none. As the captain was dealing with the situation in the cabin; I called maintenance on the radio to alert them of the situation. Maintenance advised the airplane would be grounded and that they were working to find us a new airplane. A manager came to talk with us; and we informed her that we needed to deplane. As she initiated that process; we called the Chief Pilot and alerted them of the situation as well. Once we were assured that our crew and passengers were safe and being accommodated; we noticed the message in the app that initiated the customer service issue was from a flight attendant sitting in the terminal who was not assigned to the flight and had no operational duties with the flight.
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Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.