On Monday night, a Singapore Airlines (SIA) Airbus A380, the world’s largest double-deck commercial plane, unexpectedly rolled backward after arriving at Delhi Airport. The incident, which occurred around 8:14 pm after flight SIA 406 landed from Singapore, was attributed to the pilot failing to activate the parking brake.
The aircraft had docked at its assigned bay, which is slightly sloped to facilitate rainwater drainage. Moments later, it started moving in reverse. Fortunately, the pilots noticed the movement promptly and applied the brakes, avoiding any collision with nearby aircraft or vehicles.
A minor injury was reported when a ground staff member sustained a bruise on her thigh. She received immediate medical attention and quickly returned to duty.
In an official statement, SIA explained that after halting the plane, the pilots alerted air traffic control. Ground personnel then towed the aircraft back to its designated position. The airline expressed regret for any inconvenience and reaffirmed its commitment to the safety of passengers and crew.
Aviation guidelines dictate that pilots must engage the parking brake before shutting down the engines. Ground staff are then required to secure the wheels with chocks before releasing the brake. In this instance, the parking brake was not correctly engaged, leading to the unintended rollback.
While no significant damage occurred, the deviation from standard protocols highlights the importance of adhering to operational procedures. There has been no confirmation of a formal investigation into the incident.
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