View Full Version : JFK pushback incident
Phil Space
7th Jan 2007, 04:12
NEW YORK (AP) - The left wing of a plane backing out of a gate at John F. Kennedy International Airport clipped the tail of another plane on the taxiway Saturday afternoon, but no one was injured, authorities said.
The Air China flight had 215 passengers on board and 23 crew members and was destined for Beijing when its wing clipped the other plane, said Tony Ciavolella, a spokesman for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which manages the airports.
The Delta flight was empty because the plane had not boarded yet, said Delta spokeswoman Katie Connell.
Both planes were taken out of service to repair damage. The Air China flight was rescheduled with another plane for Sunday. The Delta passengers took another plane an hour after their originally scheduled flight to Nice, France, Connell said.
The Federal Aviation Administration was investigating the incident. No other flights at JFK were affected.
apaddyinuk
7th Jan 2007, 15:24
You mean this didnt happen at Terminal 7 for a change????
Shore Guy
7th Jan 2007, 18:43
These type of events seem to be happening (at least in the U.S.) with greater frequency.
Certainly, more congested ramps are an issue, but I think a greater player are the low time/contract marshallers, pushback crews, and ramp personnel in use at many of the airlines.
Pay me now or pay me later…….
Litebulbs
7th Jan 2007, 18:49
200 pax and 23 crew, so damage to the plane, thats the shock? Oh, sorry, I work for a UK charter operator, 350 pax, 11 crew with 2 pilots included!
Thread drift to the left.....haul in the commies!:}
Wonder how many hours the JFK to Beijing flight takes and there may lie your answer. Could it be that the CAP 371 is not as user friendly as our chinese friends' version?
Kestrel_909
7th Jan 2007, 21:39
Wonder how many hours the JFK to Beijing flight takes and there may lie your answer.
12-13 hours I think.
FlyVMO
7th Jan 2007, 22:03
I used to work on a ramp with a mix of corporate jets and light a/c, tightly spaced at that.
IMHO, I see a lot of marshalers at big US airports who don't seem to be taking their job as seriously as I would expect. I'm sure most of the guys are professional enough, its not my intent to slander a group here. It seems to me though there are a few too many people joking amongst each other, paying more attention to where the a/c was than where its going etc. Take a few days to watch these things and see what you think, maybe its just me, I don't know.
Litebulbs
8th Jan 2007, 00:46
Ta 909bird
As I said, as a UK charter, our worst duty is about 18 hrs with flights and positioning, at a ratio of just under 40:1 crew/pax, and those evil exploiting commies have a ratio of about 4 times better! Still, someones making money, (not the crew tho!).
Phil Space
9th Jan 2007, 14:34
Ta 909bird
As I said, as a UK charter, our worst duty is about 18 hrs with flights and positioning, at a ratio of just under 40:1 crew/pax, and those evil exploiting commies have a ratio of about 4 times better! Still, someones making money, (not the crew tho!).
The captains and crew played no part in this incident so let us focus on facts please.
The blame lies with the pushback tug operator but unlike a pilot I doubt he will be the focus of an investigation:ugh:
primreamer
9th Jan 2007, 15:30
Phil Space,
I think you're wrong to doubt that the tug driver will be the subject of an investigation. After an incident like this, the airline involved, airfield operations and insurance companies all demand written accounts of what happened. As a result the ground handling personnel will very definitely be under the spotlight until the facts are known.
captjns
9th Jan 2007, 15:33
The tug driver, and wing walkers will all be questioned and possibly drug tested concerning the matter. As far the crew they can call for Chinese takeout while their jet is being repaired.
primreamer:
You obviously don't know anything about the IAM, the Teamsters and the NY Mafia at JFK!
captjns
9th Jan 2007, 15:38
You obviously don't know anything about the IAM, the Teamsters and the NY Mafia at JFK!
Please enlighten me on my lack of knowlegde, since you seem to be an expert on the subject. I guess you are a card carrying member of the teamsters and the IAM But what really intrigues me is your knowledge of the Mafia. Which one are you talking about as theire are allegedly many mafias out there today. Does the NY Mafia one have its own local? Is it in JFK only? I'm on the edge of my seat.
Well, I was based there for three years although I admit it was 20 years ago. No doubt everything is different now.
captjns
9th Jan 2007, 15:55
Well, I was based there for three years although I admit it was 20 years ago. No doubt everything is different now.
I guess if I were on TDY in NY and saw some movies such as "Good Fellas", "The God Father" and similar movies versus living in NY and being a native from NYC as well as flying out of all 3 NYC airports for over 30 years, I can see where some guests get these ideas. Bono sera.
captphil
13th Jan 2007, 09:57
Hi Phil space.
Are you a pilot or a journo?:cool:
No longer ATC
13th Jan 2007, 13:33
Believe a similar incident with an Icelandair 757 occured in last day or two also...
lovdates
13th Jan 2007, 13:54
JFK-PEK 5942 NM,12h23m based on a TAS of 480 kts(no wind).....
believe they operate with double crews(part of their ULR/SLR authorization).
Litebulbs,
I just can't help myself :} ...
at a ratio of just under 40:1 crew/pax
They have 40 crew per pax? Must be great service.
Sorry mate.:ok:
Icelandic_pilot
14th Jan 2007, 12:32
No Longer Atc.
Yes a Icelandair 757 was taxiing into gate at Terminal 7 2 days ago, with a signalling marshall and 2 persons on each wing. Then the left engine hit the jetway, the Captain felt the hit and stopped. But the signalling marshall kept on telling them to go further although the aircraft had already hit the jetway???? Of course they did not.. because they knew something was wrong.
Litebulbs
14th Jan 2007, 13:51
ABX
Whoops!
Bulbs
TPAnx
14th Jan 2007, 14:32
On another aviation website, there's mention of two accidents at DFW involving pushbacks...the most recent cost a ramper a leg, a broken leg, and crushed pelvis. Some posters report pushbacks done with just a tug operator involved!!
TPAnx
Some posters report pushbacks done with just a tug operator involved!
Observation from the gate leads me to believe that Tullamarine, Melbourne do that.
Standing by for correction. (John Tullamarine are you reading this?)
Cheers,
ABX
Phil Space
20th Jan 2007, 12:33
It seems that it is not just pushback where things can go wrong at JFK!
On Sunday, 28 May 2006, Qantas flight QF107 hit the blast fence at Terminal 7 while taxiing to its gate. As a result, the starboard side wingtip was damaged. The aircraft was VH-OEE, a Boeing 747-400 ER, named the Spirit of Australia.
http://www.rankel.net/stephenlauren/planes/qantas3.jpg
Hi Phil,
Thanks for the pic, looks like an embarrassing incident.
Mate I think you'll find that QANTAS (http://www.qantas.com) is "The Spirit of Australia" not VH-OEE.
VH-OEE is named "Nullabor"
Cheers
Phil Space
21st Jan 2007, 01:36
Hi Phil,
Thanks for the pic, looks like an embarrassing incident.
Mate I think you'll find that QANTAS (http://www.qantas.com) is "The Spirit of Australia" not VH-OEE.
VH-OEE is named "Nullabor"
Cheers
Sorry for the gaffe ABX. (I've flown across the Nullabor in a single...very empty landscape)