Ryanair fender bender
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From: Houseville UK
Ryanair fender bender
Revealed on the link below, that in May 2011 a Ryanair B738, whilst taxying for departure 25L at Barcelona had a ground collision with a stationary aircraft. The crew of the other aircraft were unaware there was a collision, and both aircraft flew to destination without being examined.
Incident: Ryanair B738 and American B763 at Barcelona on May 27th 2011, both aircraft departed despite ground collision and passenger complaints
Incident: Ryanair B738 and American B763 at Barcelona on May 27th 2011, both aircraft departed despite ground collision and passenger complaints

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From: Reading, UK
Preliminary CIAIAC report (in Spanish only) here:
14-04-2011. EI-EKB. Boeing 737-8AS. Aeropuerto de Barcelona - 2011 - Investigación - CIAIAC - Órganos Colegiados - Ministerio de Fomento
14-04-2011. EI-EKB. Boeing 737-8AS. Aeropuerto de Barcelona - 2011 - Investigación - CIAIAC - Órganos Colegiados - Ministerio de Fomento
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From: NC, USA
Another Ryanair tale
This is being discussed on avherald:
Accident: Ryanair B738 and American B763 at Barcelona on Apr 14th 2011, both aircraft departed despite ground collision and passenger complaints
An American Airlines
Boeing 767-300, registration N366AA performing flight AA-67 from Barcelona,SP
(Spain) to New York JFK,NY (USA), had taxied to the holding point runway 25L and
was holding short of the runway.
A Ryanair Boeing 737-800, registration EI-EKB performing
flight FR-8136 from Barcelona,SP (Spain) to Ibiza,SP (Spain) with 169 passengers
and 6 crew, was taxiing along Barcelona's taxiway K for departure from runway
25L and was maneouvering to pass behind the Boeing 767-300.
A number of passengers on board of the Boeing 737-800
observed the right hand wing of the aircraft contact the tailplane of the Boeing
767-300 and rose out of their seats attracting the attention of a flight
attendant. A passenger told the flight attendant, that their aircraft had hit
the aircraft besides them. The flight attendant contacted the purser, who
instructed her to contact the flight deck, she contacted the flight deck and
informed the captain that passengers had seen their aircraft had hit another
aircraft. The captain responded however everything was fine and she continued with the takeoff about 2 minutes after the Boeing 767.
Accident: Ryanair B738 and American B763 at Barcelona on Apr 14th 2011, both aircraft departed despite ground collision and passenger complaints
An American Airlines
Boeing 767-300, registration N366AA performing flight AA-67 from Barcelona,SP
(Spain) to New York JFK,NY (USA), had taxied to the holding point runway 25L and
was holding short of the runway.
A Ryanair Boeing 737-800, registration EI-EKB performing
flight FR-8136 from Barcelona,SP (Spain) to Ibiza,SP (Spain) with 169 passengers
and 6 crew, was taxiing along Barcelona's taxiway K for departure from runway
25L and was maneouvering to pass behind the Boeing 767-300.
A number of passengers on board of the Boeing 737-800
observed the right hand wing of the aircraft contact the tailplane of the Boeing
767-300 and rose out of their seats attracting the attention of a flight
attendant. A passenger told the flight attendant, that their aircraft had hit
the aircraft besides them. The flight attendant contacted the purser, who
instructed her to contact the flight deck, she contacted the flight deck and
informed the captain that passengers had seen their aircraft had hit another
aircraft. The captain responded however everything was fine and she continued with the takeoff about 2 minutes after the Boeing 767.
Last edited by BobM2; 29th July 2012 at 16:42.
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From: uk
1. How does Ryanair manage to 'cover up' all their incidents in that the media never appears to get hold of them. And yes htere si a long list.
2. I am lost for words that an airline captain should take off knowing there had been a coming together.Engineering inspection being a must surely?
2. I am lost for words that an airline captain should take off knowing there had been a coming together.Engineering inspection being a must surely?
More bang for your buck
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From: land of the clanger
2. I am lost for words that an airline captain should take off knowing there had been a coming together.Engineering inspection being a must surely?

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From: FUBAR
The most damning aspect of it is that (AFAIK) the "Captain"
is still employed, albeit in the other seat
I am further told that the crew of the 767 were unaware, and were not (of course, as it was all "OK" ) made aware by the FR crew, of the "possible"
collision. Given the "sue them for all they are worth" mentality on the West side of the pond, I would have thought some enterprising Lawyer could cobble up an excellent case for sueing the hell out of either Ms Capt &/or Ryanair.
Never mind the risk to ones own aircraft, what a
liberty to decide "sod it the other guy has to take the same chance I am taking" . Sorry, but that is criminal negligence, + endangering another aircraft, pure & simple.
is still employed, albeit in the other seatI am further told that the crew of the 767 were unaware, and were not (of course, as it was all "OK" ) made aware by the FR crew, of the "possible"
collision. Given the "sue them for all they are worth" mentality on the West side of the pond, I would have thought some enterprising Lawyer could cobble up an excellent case for sueing the hell out of either Ms Capt &/or Ryanair. Never mind the risk to ones own aircraft, what a
liberty to decide "sod it the other guy has to take the same chance I am taking" . Sorry, but that is criminal negligence, + endangering another aircraft, pure & simple.
Last edited by captplaystation; 29th July 2012 at 18:36.

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From: OS SX2063
Out of interest from a helicopter pilot, what would any fixed wing crew members who were flying as passengers have done on witnessing the same or similar events on board a commercial airliner ?
If you were absolutely certain of what you had seen, would you take steps to make the aircraft return to the gate after the captain had decided otherwise.
If you were absolutely certain of what you had seen, would you take steps to make the aircraft return to the gate after the captain had decided otherwise.

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From: FUBAR
If they ignored my objections ? Walk to the front & open the exit thereby blowing the slide if I was 101% sure. . . .and no, not joking.
Really surprised the Eng didn't take it further, they are not normally "shy retiring" types
Really surprised the Eng didn't take it further, they are not normally "shy retiring" types

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From: EGSS
Ryanair fender bender
As mentioned before, they not only knowingly departed without engineering inspection, they also failed to notify the AA 767 or ATC and let it depart too. What if the 767 had elevator damage? Disgraceful in all aspects if true.
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From: uk
I agree with all that's been said, no excuses for the fr captain. If that had happened in a car for example and the offender had left the scene of the accident without swapping addresses, then that's a criminal offence??
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From: The blasted heath
It does make you wonder, and I often do, what the reaction of cabin crew would actually be in an instance like this. It will be interesting to find out, as we surely will eventually, what conversations actually took place.
I know for certain that if I was sure something was wrong then I would be up out of my seat, and, not get back in it again until something was done.
If the photos are correct the crew of the RYR must have surely have been able to see the damage to the AA. If they did and did nothing about it I find that incredible.
I know for certain that if I was sure something was wrong then I would be up out of my seat, and, not get back in it again until something was done.
If the photos are correct the crew of the RYR must have surely have been able to see the damage to the AA. If they did and did nothing about it I find that incredible.
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From: Spain
So why isn't Spain making a bit more fuss about this, bearing in mind that AENA have now bowed to MOR's wishes with regard to the agreement at Alicante (El Altet) that Ryanair passengers may now walk to and from the aircraft? Could the answer be that Spain is desperate for tourist revenue?
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From: W
Flightmech
The 767 had substantial damage to the elevator section, see the link further up the page for pics.
This should see Ryanair and the Cpt, who failed to notify both ATC and the 767 crew of the damage, up on criminal negligence charges.
How would Ryanair have reacted had the 767 elevators failed to perform upon take off. An absolutely shambolic situation.
This should see Ryanair and the Cpt, who failed to notify both ATC and the 767 crew of the damage, up on criminal negligence charges.
How would Ryanair have reacted had the 767 elevators failed to perform upon take off. An absolutely shambolic situation.

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From: Reading, UK
It will be interesting to find out, as we surely will eventually, what conversations actually took place.
"The FA seems to have been unaware of the safety implications of the information she was providing. First, she rang only once, instead of the three times that, as stated by the flight crew, are procedurally required if a condition poses a threat to safety. As the captain noted, this predisposed her to not place too much importance on the report. Secondly, the FA began her report with "I'm sorry to bother you, I know I'm not supposed to ...", as she stated, or with "For your information only", according to the captain's statement. In any event, either expression indicates hesitation regarding whether or not she should have interrupted the pilots' activities with this report.
Another indication of the poor communication is the fact that when recounting her conversation with the captain, the FA described the captain's explanation as involving "aviation terminology", which suggests that the FA was not familiar with the language used by the pilot.
The fact that the captain believed only one passenger, and not several, had reported the collision is further proof of this miscommunication and proved critical to her assessment of the situation, as she herself stated."
Thread Starter
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From: Houseville UK
Oh the biscuit chuckers are to blame, coz they didn't do the correct procedure and didn't explain it properly. I love a happy ending.
I wonder if anyone was looking back out the right cockpit window to see there was clearance as it clattered the 767?
I wonder what speed they were taxying at, and were they in a hurry?
I wonder why nobody noticed the trashed winglet at Ibiza?
I wonder if the 767 had crashed into the middle of the Atlantic killing all on board, and they parked the 738 at Barcelona overnight, they might have got away with it, the ramp bunnies could have carried the can for the winglet, smacked it with a truck they did, honest guv?
I wonder if anyone was looking back out the right cockpit window to see there was clearance as it clattered the 767?
I wonder what speed they were taxying at, and were they in a hurry?
I wonder why nobody noticed the trashed winglet at Ibiza?
I wonder if the 767 had crashed into the middle of the Atlantic killing all on board, and they parked the 738 at Barcelona overnight, they might have got away with it, the ramp bunnies could have carried the can for the winglet, smacked it with a truck they did, honest guv?




