No injuries were reported to the 124 passengers, 3 flight attendants, 2 pilots, or the tug operator; however, the airplane sustained substantial damage to the lower portion of the forward fuselage.
No mention of Headset Operator here!!?
The number 1 engine was started during the pushback. The tug operator stated that as he was preparing to transition the airplane from being pushed back to pulling it forward, the airplane began to accelerate forward. The tug operator applied the brakes but the airplane continued to move forward, causing the tug to jack-knife back and forth until it was impacted by the airplane. FDR data and crew interview statements indicate that an increase in power on the number 1 engine was commanded around the time the tug was preparing to pull the airplane forward.
No mention here either!
Not saying that having a headset operator would have avoided this however the headset guy would have probably been seriously injured had he have been in situ!!!
Does the final report mention a headset Operator, not confident that one was present. Yes a competent tug driver can quite easily carry out a push/headset/disconnection however should NEVER happen.
