B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 174; Flight Crew Total 2779; Flight Crew Type 2779
Situational Awareness
Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Other / Unknown; Ground Event / Encounter Other / Unknown
Flight Crew Returned To Gate; General Flight Cancelled / Delayed; General Maintenance Action; General Physical Injury / Incapacitation
Equipment / Tooling
During pushback tug driver announced 'Breakaway; Breakaway' so I applied breaks forcefully to stop aircraft from rolling back any further. This caused aircraft to come to hard stop. Flight attendant was standing in first class galley and was thrown to ground injuring her. After stopping I contacted cabin crew and was told [Flight Attendant] was injured. No other injuries were reported. We contacted Operations and told them we were coming back to gate and would need [medical personnel]. I asked tug driver what happened and was informed the pin popped out of slot. He then towed us back to gate. I informed passengers what was happening. I then verbally briefed [Chief Pilot] and Dispatch. A logbook entry was made. I requested chief pilots office come to gate. [Medical Personnel] removed [Flight Attendant] and a replacement flight attendant was sent to aircraft. Maintenance performed inspection and signed aircraft off. I discussed situation with Flight Manager and Dispatch and we all agreed it was OK to continue.
During the pushback; we were pushed approximately 100 ft. from the gate. Suddenly the ramp personnel driver of the tug shouted a command 'breakaway; breakaway'. The Captain immediately applied the brakes using the foot brakes then followed by setting the parking brake. This caused the aircraft to abruptly come to a stop. The Captain asked what happened the tug driver said 'the pin popped out'. The flight attendants immediately called and said a flight attendant had fallen and injured herself during the aircraft coming to an abrupt stop. We coordinated with Ramp; Operations; [Chief Pilot]; Flight Manager and Maintenance. We returned to the gate. [Medical Personnel] aided to the flight attendant and a replacement flight attendant came on board. We had maintenance inspection completed. Received a new [release] and proceeded without any further incident.
B737 flight crew reported an abrupt stop during pushback due to tow pin failure resulted in a flight attendant injury.