Description

On 8 August 2017, a Boeing 767-300 (EY-AMG) being operated by Ethiopian Airlines on a scheduled international passenger flight from Delhi to Addis Ababa as ET 687 was in collision in normal night visibility with an Air India Airbus A320 (VT-EXD) which was parked out of service on the adjacent stand. There were no injuries to any of the occupants but both aircraft were damaged.

Investigation

An Investigation was carried out by the Indian Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB).

It was established that with the 767 already parked on the Terminal 2 remote stand 87, the A320 arrived from Jeddah later the same day and was parked on the adjacent stand 86L where it remained out of service. Just over four hours later, the 767 was boarded and ready for departure and the ramp team from Celebi Ground Handling Delhi, contracted to serve Ethiopian Airlines since 2011, was in attendance in order to perform the necessary pushback.

After obtaining clearance to push back from ATC, it was commenced but after 14 metres of the pushback movement had been completed, the right wing of the 767 hit the left wingtip of the A320. Damage to the 767 wing was to the aileron assembly and its attachment, the lower wing skin and the wing rear spar and upper and lower T-chords. The A320 damage was confined to the left wing ‘sharklet’ which was penetrated by approximately 60 cm of the 767 wing but it was also moved sideways by approximately 1.5 metres.