Incident Overview

Description
Air France flight 1084 was taxiing towards the departure runway at Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport. The aircraft, an Airbus A320, used taxiway R and was instructed to stop at T4 and wait behind an Airbus A319. At the same time, an Air France Boeing 777-300ER, F-GZNT, was being towed to remote parking spot M10. The tug driver was instructed to stop behind the A320. After a few minutes the controller radioed the person in the flight deck of the 777 if they were able to pass the A320. He in turn contacted the tug driver, who reported that he would move slowly and pass the A320. During this manoeuvre the wing tip struck the rudder of the A320. BEA stated that this accident and previous accidents have shown that it may be difficult to assess the distances between the end wing tips and obstacles from the cockpit or from a tug. The final report did not contain a Probable Cause statement.
Primary Cause
Difficulties in assessing distances between end wing tips and obstacles due to cockpit and tug operator visibility during the maneuver.Difficulties in assessing distances between end wing tips and obstacles due to cockpit and tug operator visibility during the maneuver.Share on: