A tug driving too fast in wet conditions at the Charlotte airport hydroplaned into an American Airlines jet this week, doing serious damage to the aircraft. It may be nine year old Airbus A321 registration N136AN:
BREAKING @AmericanAir CLT – Today. Super tug hydroplaned – Going too fast I’m told.
Get your act together @AmericanAir pic.twitter.com/UdaK8cgu9G
— The GOOD. The BAD. The UGLY: Aviation MX podcast (@goodbadugly_ap) April 25, 2024
— The GOOD. The BAD. The UGLY: Aviation MX podcast (@goodbadugly_ap) April 25, 2024
The tug operator reportedly blamed the hydroplaning incident on a “slick double yellow line” though of course they never should have been driving as quickly under wet conditions. And blaming it on non-slip yellow lines? This is almost certainly the tug driver’s fault.
As one more responsible driver put it:
Now listen, like any of us, I too enjoyed taking the tug out for a spin on the tarmac, maybe catch a drift or donut if it was icy. But for the love of god don't do it near a multi-million dollar airplane, or with anyone watching for that matter! Kinda shit ruins it for everybody.
— 14badgers (@jakeypooh79) April 25, 2024
(HT: JonNYC)
I’m afraid that this is the state of the culture and the death of pride and professionalism among workers in the United States. They are entitled to everything but responsible for nothing . . . and SEIU will strike and destroy your business if you try and demonstrate otherwise.
FAFO at is finest
Where is the pride in your work or professionalism?
Severely lacking…just like commonsense.
A little bit of speed tape will fix anything!! 😉
Didn’t know Dave Calhoun found another job so quickly…
Reason why your car is at risk if you leave it at the dealer for repair or maintnance. “Test drive” during lunch…
Mak is spot on with his comment. Don’t be surprised if when all is said and done, the cause of this incident will be blamed on the airplane for being in the way of where the tug was going.
I often find myself confused and doubtful about the accuracy of your headlines. It seems like your choice of words is biased towards a particular individual or company. For example, in this article, you described a tug driver as reckless, which implies that his actions were a criminal offense. However, being careless is a civil offense. I am curious to know how you came to the conclusion that the driver was reckless. Were you privy to the incident investigation and its findings?
Just put speed tape on the gash and be done with it.
@Garnett – no, “reckless” does not “impl[y] that his actions were a criminal offense”
You are reading things in here that simply do not exist.
From what I can see, and it’s difficult to judge an incident from a few photos, the tug was hooked to the aircraft (towbarless?) and not driven into it.
Tugs rotating under aircraft under slippery conditions is a known hazard. Also could have been a mechanical issue with the tug too.
Spring apron maintenance many times includes scrubbing of lead in lines as they can get slippery.
Just saying might be a bit more to the story once all the facts are determined
Must’ve been a DEI hire.
(That was sarcasm, BTW)
Another possibility–is this the result of demanding they accomplish too much in a given period? All too often companies set unreasonable goals and then blame the employee when things go badly.
@Derek: Bingo. Only red light camera ticket I’ve ever received was when I was out of the country and my car was in the dealership for maintenance.