OE-LZQ before the accident happened (© Martin O. | Jetphotos)
A brand new Airbus A320neo (first flight; May 2023) from Austrian Airlines was apparently seriously damaged during shunting work on the ground last night. The right horizontal stabilizer was completely torn off, and the right wing of the machine and a passenger boarding bridge at Schwechat Airport were also affected. The specialists at AUA Technology now have to assess whether the machine can still be repaired. The AUA confirmed Austrian Wings' research, but did not want to comment further. According to information available to Austrian Wings, a tractor driver is likely to be responsible for the accident.
The Airbus A320neo, OE-LZQ, of Austrian Airlines landed at Vienna Schwechat Airport yesterday evening at 10:37 p.m. from the British capital London as course OS 456 and parked at parking position E47. While the flight was uneventful, a serious incident later occurred on the ground.
The brand new Airbus A320neo, which was only delivered in June 2023, collided with a passenger boarding bridge and a power pole in the area of parking position F31 and was seriously damaged. Photographs available to Austrian Wings show that the jet's right horizontal stabilizer was completely torn off and the passenger boarding bridge was significantly affected. In addition, the right wing was damaged in the outer area near the winglet. Further structural damage to the new AUA aircraft cannot be ruled out.
It was initially unclear whether the accident occurred when the vehicle was taxiing under its own power or during a towing maneuver by a pushback vehicle. It was also initially unclear whether the accident was the responsibility of the pilots (during taxiing) or a member of the ground crew at Vienna Airport (during towing).
When asked, the AUA remained tight-lipped, as the statement above shows. Although she confirmed the Austrian Wings research into the incident, she refused to provide any information about what exactly happened. It therefore remains unclear for the time being whether an aircraft pilot or a pushback driver was responsible for the incident and how it could have happened.
As Austrian Wings learned from usually well-informed circles, the accident probably occurred when the plane was being pushed back/towed by ground staff at Vienna Airport. Accordingly, a tractor driver presumably made a mistake and caused the accident. The extent of the damage to the infrastructure of the airport building is now also being investigated.
Here you can see how far the A321-271N rolled back from it's parking position into the gate
Clearly visible that the A320NEO lost his horizontal stabilizer during the collision. (© Unknown)
The horizontal Stabilizer that has been ripped of the fuselage (© Unknown)
The Jetbridge that got damaged in the collision (© Unknown)
The Jetbridge that got damaged in the collision (© Unknown)
Clearly visible that the A320NEO lost his horizontal stabilizer during the collision. (© Unknown)
Clearly visible that the A320NEO lost his horizontal stabilizer during the collision. (© Unknown)
The damage to the wingtip that collided with a light pole (© Unknown)
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