MD-80 damaged by pushback tug

[Kev3188]

That is why I always made it a point to walk around the tug and step over the front to get into or on the cab. I would always check the pin at the tug, the steering bypass pin, and the inter phone connection....even if I was the one who hooked it up when the aircraft arrived at the get.

Same here.

BTW, I had to change that habit, since walking over a towbar at DL isn't allowed.

 

Are you kidding? I'm sure they can defer this repair for at least two more flights. Just put an inop sticker on anything down there that was supposed to work in flight.

 
Speed tape works wonders...
 

Not sure on how this happened but in general there are some people that do not belong anywhere near an aircraft.

^Truth^

 

[Thomas Paine]

Just pushed the date of 50 more jobs gone from Tulsa up. Shame.

 

[1AA]

Just pushed the date of 50 more jobs gone from Tulsa up. Shame.

And that is the result of a YES vote to save jobs?
I read an email that AA won a contract with Allegiant Air again.
So where is the job savings?

 

[AA-MRO.COM]

Just pushed the date of 50 more jobs gone from Tulsa up. Shame.

 
They voted for it...

 

[ChockJockey]

It looks like they either lost control of the tractor while trying to connect the towbar or the towbar was not secured properly or at all and they tried to push back.  The a/c is still on the block with the jetbridge able to get up to it.  If it's the former they're lucky there weren't two casualties, but the latter seems more likely to me.
 
This is why you always triple check both connections and the bypass pin prior to pulling the chocks...

 

[FWAAA]

There's a photo in the first post of the Flyertalk thread linked below that shows the driver trapped in the cab while the fire department responds.   The belt loader is alongside the plane and the jetway is against the plane, although it looks like the plane was pushed back a foot or two from the impact.   While the media typically reports inconsistent and wrong facts, every story I've seen is in agreement that it happened while passengers were still boarding.   In the Dallas Morning News, they mention that it was a 4:45 pm departure, but the published schedule is 4:10 pm departure.   Perhaps it was delayed by half an hour or so.    The news media reports that it happened at 4:10 to 4:15 pm.   
 
Here's the link with the picture:  http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/american-airlines-aadvantage-pre-merger/1552572-aa-md-80-damaged-bwi-tarmac-16-feb-2014-a.html
 
If she crashed the tractor into the plane while passengers were still boarding, then it's very lucky that no passengers or crew were hurt.   She could have easily been killed - crushed between the plane and her cab. 

 

[robbedagain]

lit more info I have heard over the last few days was that the tug driver was in training   the trainee was the one hooking the tow bar and he or she jumped out of the way.     also mechanics are doing repairs and supposenly going to put a tent of sorts in the nose area  then the plane is supposenly going to fly bwi to tul with its landing gear down bec the nose gear door is severely damaged  and thus the gear cannot be retracted    they will be flying Baltimore to Tulsa at no more than 12k feet with the gear down   that has got to be a heck of a lot of fuel burn     this is all that ive heard over the last few days

 

[Flying low]

lit more info I have heard over the last few days was that the tug driver was in training   the trainee was the one hooking the tow bar and he or she jumped out of the way.     also mechanics are doing repairs and supposenly going to put a tent of sorts in the nose area  then the plane is supposenly going to fly bwi to tul with its landing gear down bec the nose gear door is severely damaged  and thus the gear cannot be retracted    they will be flying Baltimore to Tulsa at no more than 12k feet with the gear down   that has got to be a heck of a lot of fuel burn     this is all that ive heard over the last few days

The people in TUL will be glad to see it!!!

 

[robbedagain]

I am curious though  as I understand it is a 24 yr old plane   there had been rumors that they might have been planning to ferry it to the desert  but I do not know for a fact.   

 

[Flying low]

I am curious though  as I understand it is a 24 yr old plane   there had been rumors that they might have been planning to ferry it to the desert  but I do not know for a fact.

Rumors, just don't know what to believe...
Rumors have that they're bringing MD-80s out of the desert to replace some of US Air's older fleet.

Tulsa is rebuilding a different MD-80 that had a tow-bar damage, so why not this one?

 

[robbedagain]

wouldn't the damage be enough for a write off  or how does the process work

 

[700UW]

US' Fleet is younger than AA's
 
They arent bringing MD80s back and US is only retiring the 734s and have been replacing them with A321s with 17 on order this year.

 

[La Li Lu Le Lo]

wouldn't the damage be enough for a write off  or how does the process work

I cannot say for sure but I will say that while I was at TULE they would often bring a desert bound aircraft in to be worked. Apparently part of the lease agreement states they have to park the aircraft in a usable state. Again I cannot say for sure, that is just a guess based on what I have observed. 
 
Unless someone else has a logical suggestion why they are bringing in aircraft to be maintained that are going right to the desert.

 

[robbedagain]

thanks la li