Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 250; Flight Crew Total 14585; Flight Crew Type 858
Situational Awareness; Training / Qualification
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Event / Encounter Other / Unknown
Flight Crew Regained Aircraft Control
Human Factors; Procedure
Gate is a tow in gate for 777s. We entered; shut down the engines; then waited for headset contact. The tug and driver were waiting in the alley; and the tug pulled up; but nothing for 10 minutes. Then when he finally connected the headset; he said; 'Ok; we're all set.' Nothing close to SOP verbage and flight manual required statements such as configured; or ready for tow.We proceeded with the tow; the tug driver obviously did not know SOP and required procedure for a tow. This is where it got scary.We were being towed into [the] gate. Next to us was a 737 parked on the left. The driver started the turn into the gate very early- cutting the corner; to the point the L wing tip was very close to the 737; and the wing walker was not looking at our plane; just at the tug and tug driver! They had no idea the wing was very close to the 737.Now; even more scary. The tug comes to a stop; then next thing I know; he unhooks the tow bar; the plane lurches backwards; and starts to roll backwards; without setting the parking brake! I immediately; and gently set the brake; and simultaneously stated; 'Parking Brake needs to be set!'The airplane moved backwards; and there was an extreme chance for major injury; as the main wheel chocks were being set; and for major aircraft damage. Thankfully; none of this was the case.The tug driver obviously did not know SOP; had no idea of the safety implications of not following SOP. The [early morning] arrival did not help. Good thing we were alert or this could have ended disastrously.
B777 Captain reported an unsafe situation developed during tow in to the gate as the tug operator did not comply with SOPs.