Pending Review
Crash Cart
One US flight attendant had a very difficult shift, despite being onboard an empty repositioning flight.
Alexandra had buckled herself in, as the passenger jet headed for touchdown, when, in violation of her training, all company procedures, and the checklists she was required to verify for every flight, she got back up. While standing towards the front of the plane, a runaway drinks cart made its way all the way from the aircraft's rear and collided with her.
Three important details emerged from the investigation. The first was that Alexandra was, by her own admission, entirely responsible for making sure the cart was securely locked away for landing. The second is that all brakes and locks worked fine; in other words, she simply hadn't locked the cart down correctly.
The third, and finest, detail was the reason she stood up in the first place. During final approach with Alexandra safely buckled up, her jump-seated coworker requested she come and take a photo! After snapping the shot, Alexandra turned around only to discover the cart barrelling towards her. Launched hard by the impact, she was stretchered off by paramedics and for her next flight via air ambulance.
https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/86307/pdf
https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86307
Second link is docket of investigative documents including the statement from the flight attendant.
Submitted on 02/17/2021
Submitted by:
Iona Macdonald
Reference:
NTSB investigation