New Delhi International Airport (India) was the scene of an unusual incident on Monday November 25, 2024. According to Air Journal relaying information from the local newspaper Times of India a Singapore Airlines Airbus A380 apparently reversed unexpectedly after landing. And for good reason: the pilots had forgotten to apply the handbrake.
A slightly injured stewardess
Noticing that the plane was going backwards, one of the pilots “immediately applied the brakes to stop the plane”the airline said in a press release. Once immobilized, the aircraft was able to be towed by ground personnel to its parking location. The 459 passengers were then able to disembark safely.
However, according to local media, a flight attendant was slightly injured. Victim of a contusion to the thigh, she “received medical treatment and was cleared to return to duty”said Singapore Airlines. The company then apologized to passengers “for any inconvenience” linked to this incident.
A gently sloping parking lot
The Indian newspaper specifies that aircraft parking spaces are designed with a slight gentle slope to allow water to drain off in the event of rain. This is why, in the absence of a brake, the plane began to roll backwards.
Normally, pilots must stop the plane in front of the boarding gate, apply the handbrake and turn off the engines. Passengers can then unfasten their seat belts while chocks are placed behind the wheels by ground staff. A well-oiled protocol which, in this case, was not really respected.
