Baggage handlers arrested for hit and run

[lastgasp]

BBC reporting that two Heathrow baggage handlers have been arrested today after their tug hit a parked aircraft, causing damage to the outer skin, and they allegedly drove off without reporting the matter.

[vanHorck]

Let's restart the T5 thread!
:ugh:

[Nashers]

best one i heard on the news earlier is they hit an aircraft waiting to take off!

[Re-Heat]

It is rather typical that the BBC article says "it was not believed to be terrorism related". Aside from the fact that they feel compelled to mention terrorism in every sentence relating to aviation, and also that the definition of such is really in the eye of the beholder, surely such a damaging and irresponsible action that has known consequences is indeed what we would define as terrorism - even if the target of such is in fact the company rather than the public?

Link: BBC NEWS | England | London | BA staff arrested over jet damage (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/7828771.stm)

Without prejudging what is of course "suspected" rather than "proven and convicted", may I be the first to say, what utter, utter idiots.

[darrylj]

guess they thought they would be losing their jobs if found out which meant more to them than lives!.
not only is the place covered with CCTV, they probably will end up being fired.
hope so if this is the case.

[vs69]

To be fair, if it was a baggage tug and towing a snaking line of baggage carts then if it 'grazed' the aircraft it could have been very hard to tell from the cab if contact had occurred.
As an airside driver I give them the benefit of the doubt as there arent any real details coming to light at this time.
However IF the two in question knowingly didnt report an incident then thats a different story. Release the hounds....

[PAXboy]

Nobody will be surprised at this. Firstly - sheer weight of averages meant that LHR was overdue for a significant ground incident of this kind.

Secondly, the 100% change in corporate attitude, in recruitment, in training and everything means that we will see more of these incidents. AND because theses one ran away and because they have arrested them - the next guy who bashes an a/c will be more likely to run, than to report. CCTV will not make them stop and think.

[On_The_Top_Bunk]

For something like this to appear on the front of BBC news it must be a slow news day.

[juniour jetset]

They probably feared losing their jobs (especially in currenct economic climate) and now they got caught, they should be really worried as quite a likely reality for them.

Ruddy iresponsible if the report is correct. Sacking offence I'm sure?

Bringing down the good name of the rampies!

An ex-rampie

[Stallspincrashburn]

Radio 4 said that they hit it on the runway! Where do they find the cretins that write this stuff? And how does the BBC justify the huge salaries of those who actually read it out?:ugh::ugh::ugh:

[flyin_phil]

the runway??? :ugh: if it was any of the terminals, no way could the tugs get to the runway anyway, stupid reporters, the battery would be dead before it got there, or BAA im sure are alot quicker than a 16mph tug to get to them before such an incident. I came from BA as a baggage handler in T5 and i know there are alot of tugs moving around the aircraft, multiple logistics drivers bringing the baggage out of the baggage hall, and then the baggage handlers themselves, either on the head of stand or quickie drops. But whoever it is even if it is ex collegues, the police did the right thing, no way should u not report it, even the slightest scratch, cover ur own a@$e and report it.

[jimtherev]

"it was not believed to be terrorism related"...
I'm convinced that the jolly journos have a ragbag of templates which have to be used when composing a piece. In this case, "44-year-old mother of three" and "plucky grandmother" were not deemed to be appropriate, so we had to have the terrorism one.

I think they must have lost track of the "no radioactivity was involved" one...

[Helol]

No doubt the Daily Mail will tell us the value of the houses these two live in...

[Paradise Lost]

As previously observed, must be a DESPERATELY slow news day to have the "Senior Crime Correspondent", Ben Ando on the case. Even he was struggling to make this into a story, and admits that after saying that it could have led to a CATASTROPHIC depressurisation killing all aboard (and of course dozens of infants in their school), in fact nothing at all may have happened!!!!
Sure the tuggies fouled up....they aren't the first and they won't be the last.
PS. How did Ben Ando get promoted from extremely junior war reporter to Senior Crime Correspondent all in less than 2 years?

[Tonka Toy]

Understand a/c was on stand and damage was spotted on the walk round, then after the most dangerous thing was some stroppy passengers already onboard having to swap aircraft! Remember your walk around - it pays!:ok:

[Miss Direction]

Don't forget, the runway is where everything happens. Usually, it's where pax sit and hold for hours. Or that's what they tell the media when they complain that their lives have been wrecked by a 2-hour delay. :ugh:

[crewingb]

I agree totaly with RE-HEAT, hit a carrier bag on the door of an aircraft
and your accused of terrorism!

Aviation has gone mad!

[Trash_Hauler]

I'd like to look at this from a different angle.

Is it not a damning report on the state of our industry (ground handling) that an accident can not be reported for fear of losing one's job? If it was a genuine accident then why should they have fear in reporting such an incident? Accidents happen and we should look into the causes to prevent them in the future. If it was carelessness on the part of the operator then appropriate action SHOULD be taken but if this was a simple accident then I have issue with this. An arrest only makes people even LESS likely to report incidents in the future.

[Hollymead]

Metro reported it as a push back tug causing damage not a baggage one .

Hit-and-run Heathrow staff arrested | Metro.co.uk (http://www.metro.co.uk/news/article.html?Hit-and-run_Heathrow_staff_arrested&in_article_id=478352&in_page_id=34)

[wiggy]

So much for the credibility of the (literally) free press...spelling worthy of the Gaurniad ( "polide" ) and take a close look at the picture the "Metro" is using in that link......

[Farmer 1]

So much for the credibility of the (literally) free press...take a close look at the picture the "Metro" is using......

Only 59 out - close enough for the BBC.