RAM 787 Ground Collision with THY 777 at IST August 9, 2018

[Airbubba]

From aeronauticsonline.com:

Istanbul’s Ataturk Airport has had multiple collisions on the ramp in recent months.

Earlier today, a Royal Air Maroc B787 Dreamliner, taxiing to runway 35L for its flight to Casablanca, hit a Turkish Airlines B777-300ER, which had just arrived from New York JFK. After the collision, TK B777 had severe damage to its APU, while the RAM B787 has damage in its right wing tip.

According to a ground employee, RAM B787 was being escorted by a “follow me” car during its taxi.

The RAM Dreamliner, registration CN-RGT, and Turkish B777, registration TC-JJZ, were towed away to Turkish Technic for further investigation.

After this accident, Turkish Airlines probably lost its one of the B777s for a long time which will make things difficult in this super busy summer schedule.

New information is coming soon.

In May, an Asiana A330 sheared the tail off of a parked Turkish A321 (http://aeronauticsonline.com/breaking-asiana-a330-damages-turkish-a321-tail-in-istanbul/) while taxiing at Ataturk. More recently, another Asiana A330 barely avoided colliding with a Turkish Airlines plane (http://aeronauticsonline.com/near-miss-asiana-a330-barely-avoids-turkish-plane-in-instanbul/).


Pictures from airporthaber.com:

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.gmforum.com-vbulletin/790x593/thy6_120_37b2980f4f0dfe729c50dee1dd5e887b55d38731.jpg
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.gmforum.com-vbulletin/790x593/thy4_335_7e2320efbd77e953830a6c5ed859686c7262b4a1.jpg
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.gmforum.com-vbulletin/790x593/thy9_28_8ef3932a2b08d8f428ae2f065d1b35587dc6a8d2.jpg

Video of the collision:

https://youtu.be/pBG62FkKHYk

[llondel]

Assuming the Turkish B777 is correctly positioned, which is not unreasonable given the general operations around it, was the B787 following the wrong line? There appears to be three different lines running along the ramp past gate 218 and I'm guessing they should have been on the middle one but weren't. This is based entirely on looking at the Google Maps satellite view and seeing the size of the aircraft at the gate and mapping wingspans onto the taxi lines.

Why are there three lines there, does anyone know? Is it just that it grew from two and they added a third down the middle to accommodate larger wingspans passing longer aircraft that stuck out more?

[Intrance]

Why are there three lines there, does anyone know? Is it just that it grew from two and they added a third down the middle to accommodate larger wingspans passing longer aircraft that stuck out more?

I think the general logic is that two narrowbodies can pass each other if they are on the outer lines, keeping traffic flowing. But widebodies need to follow the center taxiway to be clear of all stands.

[Jet Jockey A4]

That 787 seemed to be taxiing pretty fast for close quarter ops, no?

[SeenItAll]

That 787 seemed to be taxiing pretty fast for close quarter ops, no?

While I could be mistaken, I think the video is speeded up. Look at how fast the luggage tugs also appear to move.

[Pilot DAR]

That 787 seemed to be taxiing pretty fast for close quarter ops, no?

Maybe trying to catch up to the reported "follow me" vehicle which seems to not be visible in the video?

[JammedStab]

Assuming the Turkish B777 is correctly positioned, which is not unreasonable given the general operations around it, was the B787 following the wrong line? There appears to be three different lines running along the ramp past gate 218 and I'm guessing they should have been on the middle one but weren't. This is based entirely on looking at the Google Maps satellite view and seeing the size of the aircraft at the gate and mapping wingspans onto the taxi lines.

Why are there three lines there, does anyone know? Is it just that it grew from two and they added a third down the middle to accommodate larger wingspans passing longer aircraft that stuck out more?

Have only been there once about two years ago. Checked my own personal airport notes which says that the blue and orange taxiway liones are for narrowbody only. Can't seem to find where I got that infor from unless it was just obvious at the time. If you are in an airplane in relatively tight quarters, best to be in the middle is my theory(unless there is a particular reason not to be and it is obviously safe to not be).

[FBW390]

Have only been there once about two years ago. Checked my own personal airport notes which says that the blue and orange taxiway liones are for narrowbody only. Can't seem to find where I got that infor from unless it was just obvious at the time. If you are in an airplane in relatively tight quarters, best to be in the middle is my theory(unless there is a particular reason not to be and it is obviously safe to not be).
Correct!
Centerline G is for wide-bodies like this RAM 787! He couldn't have been cleared on G orange on the right! As well a Captain is responsible to avoid hitting obstacles like other planes, vehicles, people...If he had checked his wing tip clearance he should had stopped! Why not ask for a marshaller to confirm? But if you are not sure, stop!!!

FBW 390

[wiedehopf]

You can see the "max span" (wingspan) print on satellite pictures that's how big it is.

Could be worn out though.

[BAengineer]

Correct!
Centerline G is for wide-bodies like this RAM 787! He couldn't have been cleared on G orange on the right! As well a Captain is responsible to avoid hitting obstacles like other planes, vehicles, people...If he had checked his wing tip clearance he should had stopped! Why not ask for a marshaller to confirm? But if you are not sure, stop!!!

FBW 390

But the 787 was following a marshaling follow-me vehicle - was that guy not aware that the aircraft was on the incorrect centreline or was the follow-me vehicle on the wrong line?

[RufusXS]

That 787 seemed to be taxiing pretty fast for close quarter ops, no?
Unless it's a trick of the camera playback, I had the same thought. Any pictures of the 78's wing?

[FBW390]

Behind a follow me? Well, I'm still checking my wing tips! Don't you, guys? And if it looks wrong, or in doubt, I stop!