Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Total 15000
Situational Awareness
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Hazardous Material Violation; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Flight Crew Overcame Equipment Problem; General Work Refused; General Maintenance Action
Human Factors; Procedure
As First Officer accomplished walk around the Crew Chief approached with a NOTOC (Notice to Captain) and stated that 3 of the 4 articles on the NOTOC were on the aircraft. He would let us know if the 4th showed up. At door closure; I had not received word of the 4th article and proceeded to the gate shack to ask the ground crew. They stated we had only 3 of the articles onboard; so I requested a new NOTOC; per [Company protocol]. The crew stated to me that the Crew Chief had closed the flight out and gone home and they could not change the NOTOC. They contacted a 'Zone Chief' for assistance. I went back to the flight deck and awaited word. The ground crewman and a 'Zone Chief' came to the flight deck and stated they could not fix the NOTOC; so they were going to remove the articles. We witnessed 5 articles removed from the forward cargo compartment. I spoke to [Company Cargo Operations] twice to try to find out what happened. He did state that 3 parcels of dry ice had been loaded; and the 4th had not. A copy of his email pasted below. We pushed late and flew to ZZZ1 uneventfully.Hello DG Management Team; Captain called [Company Cargo Operations] as follow up with a dangerous goods loading concern yesterday; which resulted in a flight delay. Reportedly; the ramp Crew Chief of provided Captain with a NOTOC that indicated 4 pieces of restricted articles onboard; but the flight's load plan only indicated 3 pieces of restricted articles onboard. Captain attempted to present this concern to the ramp Crew Chief for correction; but the Crew Chief had departed the area and was unreachable. Resultantly; 5 total packages were removed from the aircraft; the packages were also removed from the load plan; and the flight departed on a delay.Cause: Crew Chief submitted an erroneous NOTOC to crew; closed out flight prior to departure; and left for the evening.Suggestions: Crew Chief should remain at gate until flight closes and pushes back.
Air carrier Captain reported uncorrectable erroneousness NOTOC resulting in the removal of Hazmat cargo.