The Cayman Islands Airports Authority (CIAA) is investigating an airside incident at Owen Roberts International Airport (GCM) in the Cayman Islands. A Delta Air Lines Boeing 737-900 aircraft collided with a ground stairs truck at 12:51 p.m. local time on February 9, affecting flight operations for approximately 20 minutes.

The Accident

Delta Air Lines operates flight DL 1870 from George Town to Atlanta (ATL) using its Boeing 737-900 fleet. The aircraft used for this flight, with registration N846DN, collided with a ground stairs truck owned by ground handling service provider Flower Air Dispatch Services (FADS) staged on the apron. The collision damaged the aircraft's left wing as it was taxiing from its parking position, and the ground stairs truck tipped over onto its side. No injuries were reported in this incident.

Flight operations returned to normal at 1:22 p.m. without any further disturbances. Delta came up with alternate arrangements for passengers onboard the affected aircraft. Data from FlightAware shows that DL 1870 departed at 7:53 p.m. and arrived in Atlanta at 10:32 p.m. local time. 

CIAA officials said the following about the event:

"The safety and security of our passengers is our top priority. We are conducting a thorough investigation to understand the circumstances that led to this occurrence and collaborating closely with airport partners to prevent such incidents in the future."
 

How Stairs Trucks Can Cause Collisions

Stairs trucks are utilized at airports without a jetway or a jet bridge connecting an aircraft to its gate. Jetways are advantageous since they create comfort for passengers while protecting them from adverse weather conditions. A stairs truck is pulled next to an aircraft's door to transport passengers when a jetway cannot. GCM's lack of jet bridges requires using stairs trucks to accommodate passengers.

Stairs trucks can create visibility issues by obstructing the views of other vehicles or an aircraft on the tarmac, leading to a collision. Their speed and maneuverability limits can also create misjudgement by other drivers. Effective communication with staff is essential for operations involving ground stairs. Ground control, air traffic control, and truck operators should coordinate their movements on the tarmac. Communication breakdowns and misunderstandings through the reports may cause collisions. 

This incident highlights the importance of prioritizing passenger safety and effective communication for airport operations. While no injuries were reported in this collision, it serves as a reminder of the potential risks inherent in ground-handling procedures.