When discussing ground incidents that can cause damage, we are not referring to hard landings, runway excursions, or tail strikes. It also does not concern damage suffered to the aircraft while moving under its own power and does not include: Tire damage and flat tires Any damage caused by inclement weather, like hail storms Any damage caused by wildlife, including birds It is focused solely on incidents that happen on the apron, when the aircraft is being towed, or when it is undergoing maintenance. According to a ground damage report published by the Montreal-headquartered International Air Transport Association (IATA), ground handling errors have severe and costly consequences.
These could include injuries, operational delays, and expensive repairs to aircraft. Unless better training is provided to airport workers, the IATA estimates that the annual costs attributed to ground damage could rise to as much as $10 billion by 2035. A utility vehicle operated by a security contractor collided with the empty Airbus A320 as it was being towed to the terminal on Monday morning.
1 Most ground damage is caused by human error Nearly all ground damage incidents are caused by ground handlers not paying attention to their work. Other incidents can be attributed to people not having received adequate on-the-job training. Airport ramps and aprons are dynamic places that can make for a challenging environment.
Factors that can contribute to ground damage can be the following: Staffing leve.