Here’s something that will probably require more than duct tape to fix…
While details about what caused this incident are limited, there are pictures of a jet bridge having collapsed at Dublin Airport (DUB) today. Specifically, the jet bridge was connected to an American Airlines Boeing 787-8, which was supposed to operate flight AA723 to Philadelphia (PHL). When the jet bridge collapsed, it caused the plane’s second door on the left to disconnect and fall to the ground.
The good news is that it’s my understanding that there were no major injuries. Jet bridge accidents are fairly rare, so I’m curious what the cause of this is determined to be.
The aircraft involved in this incident was a seven year old Dreamliner with the registration code N812AA. Oddly as of the time of this post, the flight still shows as operating, just with a delay of a bit over 2.5 hours.
Admittedly American is very bad at updating flight status, though I’m a bit confused. American does have four flights a day to Dublin in summer, though the other three have already left (to Charlotte, Chicago, and Dallas). So does American have a spare Boeing 787 on the ground in Dublin, or is it simply taking the airline some time to decide whether a Boeing 787 without a door can safely fly across the Atlantic? 😉
I’d be willing to bet this isn’t some maintenance fix that’s going to be taken care of within hours, so this will likely prove hugely inconvenient for passengers.
Bottom line
A jet bridge collapsed today at Dublin Airport, and this happened while it was hooked up to an American Airlines Boeing 787. When the jet bridge failed, it took one of the doors of the 787 with it, which can’t be an easy maintenance fix. I imagine this 787-8 Dreamliner will be out of service for some time. I’m just amused that American hasn’t outright canceled this flight yet.
What do you make of this Dublin Airport jet bridge collapse?
It's apparent that the hydrologic system failed, it's not all that common for hydrologic systems to fail but in rare cases it does
For me the most interesting part of this will be how the aircraft will be repaired. I’m sure AA would like to ferry it to LHR but I can’t imagine them getting approval to do so with the door missing. Maybe they could re-attached the door with a temporary fix and then ferry it to LHR unpressurized.
It’s not going anywhere for weeks or maybe months would be my estimate.
OUCH . . . IF that would have been an Airbus A-321 door, that would have withheld that Jetbridge, just like that ASIANA 3L door opened perfectly and was in perfect condition, when a passenger opened that door in the final approach.
Boeing 787-8 of course . . . a different story :-)
I guess it's not hard to see, how much i dislike that plane?! ;-)
Good luck AA, getting that fixed "soon" and with your decision on those planes in general.
I really don’t believe anyone are entitled to EU 261 compensation. Yes mechanical issues often qualify, based on it being foreseen (change tires every X time, C check every Y time etc.), but an airport bridge crashing of your door, must surely be excepted, as you note in your own article: “ you’re entitled to that for any delay or cancelation that isn’t due to “extraordinary circumstances.””
Agree. Nobody is getting EU261 for this. The jet bridge is owned by the airport and operated by a handling agent.
Definitely EU261 does not apply. It is outside the carrier‘s control.
However, you are open to sue Dublin Airport to cover your financial losses if your travel plans got screwed.
Be prepared to have in insurance which covers going the legal way. Are they common in the US?
I do have a travel insurance covering all contract related things included in my ADAC Plus membership, which is popular in Germany.
They could wet lease from a partner. May be cheaper than sending another flight and accommodating.
He said wet lease.
Like most businesses in the world it's run by accountants and not maintenance or engineers. So of course something like the airbridge will fail.
Why this jet bridge was at the second door? Usually the Irish jet bridges are only prepared to balance its weight for the first door due to distancing.
Most airlines flying big jets use second set of doors at Dub. QR, Etihad, EK….
I can't imagine how complicated this is to fix. A door off? Surely an integral part of the airframe and it's not just a case of 'new door'. Please keep us updated, Ben!
Did it actually collapse or did the auto-level malfunction or was not applied?
I'm actually not sure that passengers would be entitled to compensation. A collapsed jet bridge seems unlikely to be AA's fault.
This happened while passengers were boarding/on the jet bridge?
Isn't the much bigger problem is how could a jet bridge collapse?
Tearing a door is one thing, collapse with people inside is going to be a much more serious problem.
American has no wide body aircraft to spare. Unless they want to fly a 737 with a fueling stop in Halifax and market business class as premium economy.
The twit comment of "possible jet Bridge failure", yea I think that is obvious not just possible. The other comment about the jet bridge being hooked up to the aircraft, any jet bridge should barely touch an aircraft it is never "hooked up". I missed the days of good editing.
So you point out that "hooked up" is the incorrect terminology, but then fail to offer what the correct terminology actually is. I suspect that is because you don't know what it is.
Wow! Really? Maybe take a second to breathe and count to 5. I happen to be an editor and the author is correct to state "possible" when describing what may appear to be the cause of the problem. You aren't on the scene, or able to perform a forensic inspection of the bridge, plane, and anything else related to the situation, or able to interview everyone on the plane and everywhere around the area, or...
Wow! Really? Maybe take a second to breathe and count to 5. I happen to be an editor and the author is correct to state "possible" when describing what may appear to be the cause of the problem. You aren't on the scene, or able to perform a forensic inspection of the bridge, plane, and anything else related to the situation, or able to interview everyone on the plane and everywhere around the area, or review all of the recordings from the camera systems, or review the two-way radio conversations of everyone on the ground, on the plane, and in the airport, and neither is the author, so until the point when the inspection and analysis of the entire situation is complete by persons who are actually qualified to give a conclusive statement, it is good journalistic practice to use a word like "possible" when describing what a layperson's opinion is about such a technical issue. This is the same as when we respect the rights of someone who has not yet had their day in court but has been accused of a crime. We use words like "suspected" or "accused" and do not use words like "guilty" or "liable." I seriously thought twice about replying to your sophomoric comment on the story, but I decided to go ahead and presume you might actually benefit from my reply and carry this bit of information forward for yourself and when you find yourself in a similar situation again. Hopefully then you may find something more constructive to say toward furthering the conversation, rather than your quick dismissal and generally sour attitude.
No, I haven't forgotten about the author saying the bridge was "hooked up" and how the statement was technically incorrect. While I'm sure you have some kind of technical background or interest in how all the moving parts fit together, especially when boarding an aircraft as I'm sure a fair number of other readers also share with you and which I am also aware of, was your comment really helpful to the conversation? I'm going to leave this one open ended so you might have the opportunity to mull it over for yourself. I'm really hoping you are able to take something away from this to use in your later conversations. Have a nice day my friend!
Eh, it'll buff right out
people on airliners(.)net would say the aircraft is a write-off
Flight cancelled and reinstated under 9600 the next day due to limitations of DUB baggage system to distinguish two flights with the same flight number. Rescue flight inbound is 9782 from DFW
A bit of duct tape and it should be good to go
Your contribution to the topic is....truly profound. NOT!
It would have been more useful had they mentioned “Speed Tape”
Jetbridges are essentially supported by hydraulic pressure in most modern examples (the two supports that move the end up and down depending on aircraft height) so it is possible for there to be a failure with pressure released. Alarms were probably going off in the jetbridge cab. This is what has happened before in some examples. Some older bridges this is purely mechanical. Those failures tend to be a little more spectacular and you'd see...
Jetbridges are essentially supported by hydraulic pressure in most modern examples (the two supports that move the end up and down depending on aircraft height) so it is possible for there to be a failure with pressure released. Alarms were probably going off in the jetbridge cab. This is what has happened before in some examples. Some older bridges this is purely mechanical. Those failures tend to be a little more spectacular and you'd see more damage to the bridge.
I don’t think they will be liable for EC261 since this would be “extraordinary circumstance” and not something the airline could reasonably prepare for.
Of course not as it’s the airport’s liability
Let them use a door from a business class seat ad a replacement
Flight is now showing as cancelled.
Biden’s Open Door policy is to blame, no doubt!
THAT is the limit of your wit? Grow up.