Helpful post from sarblade, although intriguing and possibly revealing use of the term "tow chief" which tends to imply they were more used to performing such manoeuvres with a tug. In that case he would usually be positioned right by the tug driver and be very immediately in control of the aircraft movement -which clearly wasnt the case at the crucial moment. It doesn't affect the answer, of course, to the q'n of who carries the can; we're repeatedly told flying is a team operation...but that's only until something goes wrong!