JFK pushback incident
 

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.

You mean this didnt happen at Terminal 7 for a change????

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…….

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?

12-13 hours I think.

marshalers
 

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.

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:

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.

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!

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.

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.

Hi Phil space.

Are you a pilot or a journo?:cool:

JFK
 

Believe a similar incident with an Icelandair 757 occured in last day or two also...

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 :} ...

They have 40 crew per pax? Must be great service.

Sorry mate.:ok:

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.