At London Stansted Airport in the UK, a Ryanair passenger aircraft sustained significant damage after colliding with the airport fence due to an error during ground handling operations. Despite 181 passengers and 6 crew members being on board, no injuries were reported.
According to a report published by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB), the incident occurred on 21 August 2024. The Ryanair Boeing 737 aircraft was being controlled by a tug vehicle while being towed into an area where aircraft were queued on the taxiway prior to departure. The tug was initially operated by a trainee driver; however, following a mistake, control was handed over to the instructor driver.
Instructor Focused on Trainee, Markings Were Passed
The AAIB report stated that during the manoeuvre, the instructor was continuously reassuring the trainee and giving instructions, directing their attention towards the trainee. As a result, the aircraft’s nose wheel passed beyond the tow release point (TRP) ground markings, which indicate where the aircraft should stop. Consequently, the aircraft struck a blast barrier located at the edge of the taxiway.
The impact caused damage to the rear section of the aircraft, which was preparing to fly to Venice, Italy. Following the incident, the instructor driver was subjected to alcohol and drug tests, all of which returned negative results.
“Markings Were Not Clearly Visible” Defence
According to the report, the instructor stated that while passing the TRP point, they were focused on speaking with the trainee and that the ground markings were not sufficiently clear. It was also claimed that the markings were positioned beneath the aircraft, making them difficult to notice.
The report further noted that the trainee driver did not issue any warning when the instructor failed to stop, as the trainee believed the instructor should know what they were doing.
Security Measures Increased at the Airport
The manoeuvre in question was carried out by the Blue Handling team, affiliated with ABM, which provides ground handling services for Ryanair at Stansted Airport. ABM has not yet issued an official statement in response to PA Media’s request for comment.
Following the accident, Stansted Airport management increased the length of the TRP ground markings from 50 centimetres to 1 metre. In addition, the markings were painted on both sides of the taxiway centreline to improve visibility.
