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The UK's Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB) has determined that the absence of wing walkers was a factor in the ground collision between a British Airways Airbus A350 and a Virgin Atlantic Boeing 787 at London Heathrow Airport on April 6, 2024.
The incident involved a British Airways Airbus A350-1000, registration G-XWBC, and a Virgin Atlantic Boeing 787-9, registration G-VDIA. During repositioning, the left wingtip of the Boeing 787 struck the right horizontal stabilizer of the parked Airbus A350. Both aircraft sustained damage; however, no injuries were reported.
Virgin Atlantic identified that the pushback tug turned prematurely, leading to an incorrect angle. The procedure lacked wing walkers, which complied with airport standards but contradicted Virgin's standard procedures. The AAIB noted: “Contrary to the aircraft operator’s processes, the pushback was being carried out without dedicated wing walkers. A wing walker on the left side of the aircraft would probably have seen the impending collision.”
