Air France A380 collides with Delta Connection jet at JFK

[Lufthansa Cargo]

Sorry for lack of info this just happened when I was working on our A380. This does not look good. I will post more info once i get the chance to do so. You could also get info from others working there at the following link.

http://www.airliners.net/aviation-forum ... n/5115587/

[Nasir]

Video clip of the incident-



Talk about getting a jolt!

[Pineapple]

This is a bad one. Passengers in that delta connecton jet must have felt a huge jolt and loud metal clunking sound.

[Lufthansa Cargo]

This is a bad habit of Delta ground staff. Their Marshallers and wing walkers always show up late. We always have this problem at terminal one where we share the taxiway with DL's term 2. Their planes sometimes have to wait 15 to 20 minutes at a time delaying all others trying to arrive or depart. Stopping half way in the terminal area is also a regular problem with them due to the same reasons. I knew that this was going to happen with them sooner or later.

[saadm80]

Looks like the Aircraft had beacon on, that means either they were starting the Engines or was already started....
But again, you cannot blame the Cockpit crew of Airfrance for this Incident, specially the Captain, who was taxing the Monster to the Gate.......

Lets see what the NTSB concludes in their investigation...

[Abbas Ali]

According to news sources, Air France Airbus A380 was heading towards runway for flight to Paris. The Comair CRJ701ER Delta Connection flight had just arrived in New York from Boston.

I think either ATC made some mistake or Comair aircraft was not in place where it should have been to provide clear area for safe movement of A380.

Btw, in that video clip it's amazing to see the power of taxiing A380 and how it shook and rattled the CRJ. During those few seconds fears of Tenerife Airport like terrible aircraft collision could have emerged in thoughts of CRJ occupants.

And, many passengers aboard the A380 on its port side must have viewed the collision.

Abbas

[Nasir]

The entrance to the gates is where the incident happened. If you look at the image below, the CRJ, while it waited for a gate to open up/gate marshals to guide it in, could very well have been stopped at a point that although may have cleared any other aircraft taxiing behind it (even perhaps a 747), but could not avoid the span of the 380.

[saadm80]

The entrance to the gates is where the incident happened. If you look at the image below, the CRJ, while it waited for a gate to open up/gate marshals to guide it in, could very well have been stopped at a point that although may have cleared any other aircraft taxiing behind it (even perhaps a 747), but could not avoid the span of the 380.

Then it means, Marshals were not at the Designated Gate Prior to the Arrival, and i think Gates should have Guidance System out there.... ATC Should have not cleared Airfrance to continue taxi....

[Nasir]

Well, actually we don't know whether the marshals were not present, or simply that the gate was occupied by another aircraft. Either ways, it would've been nice if the ground ATC had known the span of the 380 and had directed the larger taxiing aircraft to hold short of the stopped CRJ.

[Lufthansa Cargo]

Well, actually we don't know whether the marshals were not present, or simply that the gate was occupied by another aircraft. Either ways, it would've been nice if the ground ATC had known the span of the 380 and had directed the larger taxiing aircraft to hold short of the stopped CRJ.

Gates were open. Right after the incident Delta was able to pull the aircraft into it's gate which was to the right of the terminal's entrance which was to the right of the CRJ when the incident accured.

[Lufthansa Cargo]

but maybe vehicular traffic might have played a role in this incident as well. People that work here know that Delta Connection always blocks the service road that you can see in the picture posted above when they pull in. This builds up alot of traffic because they are all waiting for the marshallers to guide the plane in. Those that cannot afford to wait (beleive me there are many including vehicles transporting quick connection bags) take their chances by illegaly crossing in front of the aircrafts. Some even go out into the taxiway in order to avoid jetblast while passing the aircraft from behind.

When these aircraft usually pull in and stop, their engines are in the roadway and the tail is still on the taxiway. Now when the A380 is taxiing away from Terminal One (Towards the right of the picture posted above) the left winglet is just about on top of the roadway boundary line running parralel to the taxiiway heading towards the left of the picture for departure. The CRJ should not have stopped there. The Marshallers should have guided the plane in already because the plane is not even allowed to pull in in the first place if there is no gate available. Even though many blame Ground Control I would have to disagree. Ground Control for Terminals one and two is located in the tower of Terminal one. If the Ground Controller was watching the two aircrafts it would still be very hard to tell whether or not if the CRJ left enough clearance for the A380 to pass. I beleive that the blame will eventually go to Delta's ground crew for them not being there on time to receive the flight.

[TAILWIND]

IMO the A380 crew cannot escape the blame. It is primarily the crew who is responsible for safe maneouvring of the acft on ground. Remeber that basic and foremost important lesson durring taxiing, WHENEVER IN DOUBT-STOP.

[Lufthansa Cargo]

IMO the A380 crew cannot escape the blame. It is primarily the crew who is responsible for safe maneouvring of the acft on ground. Remeber that basic and foremost important lesson durring taxiing, WHENEVER IN DOUBT-STOP.

I totally agree with u but in these circumstances here at JFK, EK, LH, and AF are use to cutting it close with Delta multiple times a day when it comes to the A380. Do u think that ground will call the Port Authority every single time an A380 has to pass T2? I dont think so. And leaving or aproaching T1 from the other side is not an option unless the active runway is the one that crosses in front of T1. Even though the taxiway going over the expressway and airtrain was re-done for the A380 they are now having weight problems on these underpasses. Aparently the plane just weighs too much and the ceiling is sinking in the center. they only use this taxiway for the A380 when the bird cant go the other way due taxiway repairs. During this move they require 3 follow me vehicles in which 2 watch the wings due to roadway lighting fixtures being too close. Plus two more vehicles to shut down the parralel running service road which becomes a jetblast zone when the A380 is crossing. So if the blame does not go to Delta id have to say then maybe port authority should be blamed.

[TAILWIND]

I partially agree Lufthansa cargo. Bust still think that all the scenario and congestion you have pointed out, the A380 was way too fast, see in the first part of the video if that is at normal replay speed.

For us who are not familiar with JFK, Can you are my dear friend abbas point out on the google image the exact positon where ERJ700 was and the direction of A380 travel.

[Abbas Ali]

^ I also don't know the exact location of this incident at JFK. News reports that I've seen do not disclose information like identification of taxiways used by the two aircraft at the time of collision.

Members familiar with JFK may be able to pin point exact location.

Btw, there's brief description of the incident in a press release on National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) website with photos of the two aircraft on following link:

http://www.ntsb.gov/Pressrel/2011/110412.html

Abbas