Ryanair: how a 3 year old girl fell from a 737 air stair....

[Stratofreighter]

http://avherald.com/h?article=42f86607&opt=0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; has a graphic describing the situation...

Report: Ryanair B738 at London on Jul 17th 2009, child fell from air stair

By Simon Hradecky, created Thursday, Aug 12th 2010 10:28Z, last updated Thursday, Aug 12th 2010 10:29Z

Scheme of the air stair (Graphics: AAIB)

A Ryanair Boeing 737-800, registration EI-DLJ performing a flight out of London Stansted,EN (UK) with 164 passengers and 6 crew, was pre-boarding for departure when a mother, holding her 18 month old son in one arm and a carry-on bag in the other hand and accompanied by her 3-year old daughter, was climbing the airplane's integral forward stair.

The child had reached the top of the stairs, when she turned to her mother, leaned backwards and fell through the gap between the extendable handrail and the top of the airstair onto a paved surface.

The child was airlifted to a hospital in the assumption of possible spine fractures, but could be released from hospital 24 hours later after serious injuries were ruled out and the minor injuries were treated.

The British Air Accident Investigation Board released their final report stating, that the mother had opted (editorial note: and paid) for priority boarding.

The operator's boarding procedures required that three of the four flight attendants should remain at their positions at the rear/forward doors during boarding, the fourth however would normally assist passengers.

When the mother climbed the forward integral airstair of the aircraft however, no assistance was provided by cabin or ground crew.

Usually 78% of priority-boarding passengers travelling with small children would receive assistance by cabin or ground crew.

The AAIB analysed, that adults with carry-on luggage, that can not be easily placed over the shoulder, and accompanied by one small child get into certain situations of running out of hands to support the child in the ascent or descent.

The situation would be even more complicated if the adult was accompanied by more than one small child, as the children would need to negotiate the stairs with little assistance from the adult.

The AAIB analysed, that the gap between the extendable handrail and the top of platform represents a hazard to small children boarding or disembarking the aircraft.

The FAA had released a Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin in September 2007 following four similiar accidents involving small children, which recommended to place warning placards to the risers of the airstair steps and the door jams requesting passengers to hold the child's hand while on the airstair.

The SAIB also recommended to use anti-skid materials to the side beams and top of the airstair and recommended, that cabin crew should pay particular attention to travellers with small children and to travellers with special needs.

The AAIB stated, that the placards had been placed on the risers of EI-DLJ, but had not (yet) been applied to the door jams.

A revised Boeing Manual for flight attendants dated Oct 29th 2008 stated: "WARNING: As passengers are boarding or deplaning, pay particular attention to persons with small children or those with special needs.
Small children on airstairs should be attended by an adult or responsible person."

The AAIB released following safety recommendations:

- It is recommended that Boeing establish a process to inform the operators of all Boeing commercial aircraft of changes to the relevant Flight Attendants Manual.

- It is recommended that Ryanair review their current passenger boarding and disembarking procedures so that assistance is made available to passengers accompanied by children, and those with special needs.

- It is recommended that Boeing review the design of the Boeing 737 forward airstairs with the intention of adding a removable barrier to minimise the possibility of a child falling through the gap between the extendable handrail and its upper platform.

[jfaltena]

Maybe not appropriate here, but I hope the passenger in question sues Ryanair for 'proven negligence of airplane staff'; might as well shake them up a bit

Grtz, John