A321 flight crew reported that a Flight Attendant inadvertently deployed the escape slide when raising the handle of an armed door upon arrival.
Synopsis
A321 flight crew reported that a Flight Attendant inadvertently deployed the escape slide when raising the handle of an armed door upon arrival.
Narrative
Before arrival at gate XX we received a message from dispatch on possible tail tip so we have to hold passengers on aircraft until the aft cargo bay bags are unloaded. I had called back to flight attendants and briefed them on the situation and proper procedures to follow. Upon arriving at the gate we hand gestured to the 2 gate agents on the jet bridge of possible tail tip so hold the jet bridge off the aircraft. After the the parking brake was set we heard a load sound that sounded like a rapid decompression of the aircraft; questioning what it was we immediately received an ECAM indicating the door 1L slide was deployed. I looked out the window and in fact the 1L slide was deployed. I opened the cockpit door to ensure everyone was alright and was met with a panicked flight attendant A. He kept saying oh my god I blew the slide. Flight attendant B told me everyone on board is safe and he was disarming door 1R so he had his back to FA A when he heard the slide blow. I immediately made a PA advising & seating all the passengers; I then called the deployment into operation; I call Maintenance and put a log book entry into Electronic Log Book (ELB). We obtained an airstair and boarded maintenance personnel in door 1R; they released the slide dragged it safely from aircraft; the jetway approach and we disembarked the aircraft. I debriefed the gate agents about what they saw and if the were ok & no injuries. I had a ramp supervisor come up and discuss the event to ensure no injuries to ground personnel. After the plane was empty of passengers; cabin crew manager showed up at the aircraft to debrief the flight attendants. While she was present with my first officer; we debriefed the entire crew on the event. All flight attendants assured me a reiterated they followed door disarming procedures as per their flight manuals; excepts for FA A. He said he bent down to see if his door was still armed and couldn't see too good so he turned on the over head lights and without actually trying or unarming the door he raised the door handle with the door still armed deploying the slide. I asked why he touched the door handle because that's not the proper procedure and he claimed he didn't know why he touched the door handle. I asked him if he understands the risk of injuring people or ground personnel by doing what he did. He said yes. I asked what would make you just do something that is not procedurally what you were trained to do. FA A claimed he was stressed about a passenger event a few weeks ago and he was getting over the flu; and he doesn't know why he did what he did. I stressed the importance of our procedures to all of the flight attendants; being in the right state of mind to be flying because they are here for the number one reason of keeping our passengers safe; and left FA A with the supervisor. I instructed [them] to make sure they mentally feel confident to continue their trip. I debriefed with the First Officer and Chief Pilot.
Second reporter narrative
I was operating Flight ABCD ZZZ1-ZZZ. We arrived at gate XX in ZZZ; and as I was completing my parking flow; the Captain and I heard an unusual noise and felt the aircraft jolt. After some examination; we both realized that the door 1L slide was deployed. The lead flight attendant quickly came up to the flight deck. We asked him what happened; and he explained that he accidentally pulled the door handle without disarming the door. Fortunately; the jet bridge had not begun to move toward the aircraft yet. There were no injuries and appeared to be no further damage. The Captain and I coordinated with operations and maintenance to resolve the situation; and maintenance was quick to arrive at the aircraft and remove the slide. The jet bridge was connected and passengers deplaned without further incident. Afterwards the Captain debriefed the entire crew; and following up with a debrief with the Chief Pilot.
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Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.