Full Breakdown
TUI Flight Attendant Injured in Fall at East Midlands Airport
9/26/2025, 5:59:32 AM
Incident Overview
On December 16, 2024, a TUI flight attendant sustained serious injuries after falling from an aircraft at East Midlands Airport (EMA). The incident occurred when ground staff prematurely removed the steps from the aircraft while the cabin door remained open. The flight was scheduled to depart for Lanzarote, but the accident caused a delay.
Investigation Findings
The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) conducted an investigation into the incident, revealing that the removal of the steps was executed despite the aircraft door being open. At the time, the primary dispatcher was positioned at the top of the stairs to hand over paperwork to the flight crew, managing to hold onto the side rail to prevent himself from falling. Three dispatchers and four ramp staff members were present, but the AAIB noted a lack of clarity regarding who was responsible for ensuring the door was closed and the steps were clear.
According to the AAIB report, two ramp agents pushed the steps away from the aircraft under the assumption that all activities inside were complete and the cabin door was closed. One ramp staff member stated he could not see any light from the cabin, leading him to believe the door was shut. However, he later heard a call to stop and turned to find the flight attendant on the ramp with the passenger door open.
Procedural Issues
The investigation highlighted that the door closure and step removal process had been subject to a "procedural workaround" at EMA and other UK airports. This workaround involved dispatchers completing door closure procedures for which they were not qualified. The AAIB emphasized that this practice had become so routine that it went unchallenged, despite being inconsistent with written policy and lacking safeguards to prevent movement of the steps while personnel were present.
The AAIB stated, "The step removal process was conducted in a way that was not consistent with the written policy and had insufficient safeguards to prevent movement of the steps with people on them or the door still open."
Official Responses and Safety Measures
In response to the incident, the ground handling company issued a safety alert mandating that only qualified ramp staff interact with the steps. Dispatchers are now prohibited from positioning or retracting side rails or adjusting stabilizers. Additionally, the ground handling company requires dispatchers to attend briefings with ramp teams before aircraft turnaround to clarify roles and responsibilities.
A spokesperson for EMA expressed their commitment to collaborating with operators to prevent similar incidents in the future, stating, "We extend our best wishes to the cabin crew member who was injured and sincerely hope they have made a full recovery."
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
While the AAIB investigation provided detailed insights into the procedural failures leading to the incident, it did not identify the ground handling company involved. Furthermore, there were discrepancies regarding the exact sequence of events and the clarity of communication among ground staff, which contributed to the accident.
Verbatim Quotes
- "The step removal process was conducted in a way that was not consistent with the written policy and had insufficient safeguards to prevent movement of the steps with people on them or the door still open." — AAIB Report
- "We extend our best wishes to the cabin crew member who was injured and sincerely hope they have made a full recovery." — EMA Spokesperson
