B789 / B744, Amsterdam Netherlands, 2019

B789 / B744, Amsterdam Netherlands, 2019

Summary

On 13 February 2019, a Boeing 787 departing Amsterdam was given a non-standard long pushback by ATC in order to facilitate the use of its stand by an incoming flight and when a Boeing 747 was subsequently given a normal pushback by a single tug driver working alone who was unaware of the abnormal position of the 787 and could not see it before or during his pushback, a collision followed. The Investigation concluded that the relevant airport safety management systems were systemically deficient and noted that this had only been partially rectified in the three years since the accident.

Description

On 13 February 2019, a Boeing 747-400 (PH-BFV) being operated by KLM on a scheduled international passenger flight from Amsterdam to Los Angeles as KL601 was being pushed back from the gate in normal day visibility when it was in collision with a Boeing 787-9 (PH-BHA) also being operated by KLM on a scheduled international passenger flight from Amsterdam to Atlanta as KL623 which was stationary on an adjacent taxiway. The right hand winglet of the 747 hit the right hand horizontal stabilizer of the Boeing 787 and as a result, both aircraft were immediately withdrawn from service for repairs, the 747 having sustained “minor damage” and the 787 having sustained “substantial damage".

B789 B744 Amsterdam 2019 787 stabiliser dmg

787 stabiliser damage. [Reproduced from the Official Report]

B789 B744 Amsterdam 2019 747 wingtip dmg

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