B767 flight crew experiences a critical ground conflict with a regional jet during initial turn after engine start. Ground Control instructions to follow a regional jet were not very specific and the crew could not see the RJ on a parallel taxiway and turned into them.
Synopsis
B767 flight crew experiences a critical ground conflict with a regional jet during initial turn after engine start. Ground Control instructions to follow a regional jet were not very specific and the crew could not see the RJ on a parallel taxiway and turned into them.
Narrative
I read back the taxi clearance in full and then the Ground Controller added; 'Pass behind the RJ that is joining Alpha 7. He will turn on Bravo.' I acknowledged and the Captain and I both had the RJ in sight. The RJ was going to be well clear by the time we got to his position; so he was really not a factor. I cleared right and the Captain began a slow taxi. As he started a slow right turn to join Taxiway Alpha; I took another look to verify the taxi way was clear since we were unable to see behind us on Alpha due to our position being parallel to the Alpha Taxiway. I spotted an RJ on Taxiway Alpha and he was coming up on our right wing. I shouted 'Stop' to the Captain. Due to the timeliness of the need to stop; I applied the brakes and brought the aircraft to a sudden stop to avoid a possible collision. The Ground Controller must have witnessed our stop because she said thanks for holding short. The Captain then requested for me to contact the Purser to make sure everyone was OK. I called the Purser and she said they were tossed around a bit but they were OK. We proceeded with our taxi instructions and departed. During the flight; a flight attendant called from the back and was wondering what happened. She said that some of the flight attendants were a little sore from the ordeal and they were not informed by the Purser what had taken place. The Captain and I had assumed when I called the back that the Purser would have checked with all the flight attendants. The Captain then discussed the issue with all the attendants and all flight attendants were able to complete their in flight duties. The Captain had the Flight Attendant Supervisor meet the flight to discuss the details and extent of possible injuries. No serious injuries were reported at the time we left the aircraft.
Second reporter narrative
Our taxi clearance was A TO A7 T HOLD SHORT T10 PASS BEHIND THE RJ TURNING ONTO B FROM A7. Since the engines were facing the ramp and our close proximity I released brakes and allowed the jet to move forward slowly. I saw the RJ ahead and slightly left turning onto A7. The First Officer announced stop and then immediately pressed on the brakes. Both he and I were on the brakes which caused the jet to stop abruptly as he was looking out his side window and to the back. About 2 seconds went by and when I saw a regional jet on A taxiing fast and never slowed down. ATC Ground said; 'Thanks for holding short.' In my preflight brief I stated that if he needed to take the jet to take it; if he is seeing something that I am not. I also said that at the review board meeting there are two people that show up and he is one of them. As the regional jet cleared; we continued taxiing without further incident. I also asked him to call back to the Purser to see if anyone was hurt. He did and she said they we fine. After takeoff; about 2.5 hours into the flight; a rear flight attendant called and was asking why no one had called back to see how they were doing. I informed her that we did talk to the Purser and she did in fact say everyone was fine. This is when I asked the Purser to ask all the flight attendants if they were fine or may have medical issues. When she called back the Purser was requesting a Flight Attendant Supervisor meet the flight and that all the flight attendants were sore and one had a laceration. We chatted about getting the right information to the Captain when we call back and that maybe I should have asked her to call the others and get back to me. Never assume; right. Upon landing; a supervisor was there to meet the flight and both the First Officer and myself remained for the debrief to ensure that no one was seriously hurt.
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Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.