Tui Airways cabin crew member ‘seriously injured’ falling from steps

A Tui Airways cabin crew member fell from steps while closing an aircraft door for departure, the Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB) has found.

 

The senior flight attendant was seriously injured as she was unable to stop herself from falling to the ground as steps were pushed away from the aircraft at East Midlands airport.

 

An aircraft dispatcher also on the top of the steps was able to hang onto the side rail to prevent himself falling.

 

The Boeing 737 was about to operate a flight to Lanzarote but all passengers had to disembark. 

 

Both the ground handling company and the operator have taken safety action to address issues raised in the investigation into the incident on December 16 last year, the AAIB noted.

 

A report by the AAIB said: “The step removal occurred despite the aircraft door being open and a dispatcher still at the top of the steps. 

 

“There were multiple dispatchers and ramp staff working around the steps and it was not clear who had responsibility for checking that the aircraft door was closed and steps were clear.

 

“The presence of one of these dispatchers at the bottom of the steps, with another stepping off the bottom meant the ramp staff moving the steps assumed that the door closure was complete.

 

“The process of door closure and step removal had been the subject of a procedural workaround at East Midlands airport and other UK airports where the ground handling company operated. This procedural workaround had been happening for many years and had not been identified in audits.

 

“The steps were examined by the ground handling company, and no faults were identified. The aircraft operator assessed the aircraft door with no faults found.”