Commercial Fixed Wing
Situational Awareness; Workload
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Event / Encounter Other / Unknown
Human Factors; Procedure
While Employee 1 was securing the pit for departure; Supervisor 1 used hand signals to have the flight crew release the breaks for the on-time departure. Lead 1 for the gate had not yet connected the electric pushback tractor; and the belt loader was still pulled up to the aircraft when this was done. This incident had the potential to result in an out of control aircraft rolling into the alley or striking other equipment and causing damage as well as knocking Employee 1 off of the belt loader causing injury.
A Ramp worker observed the Supervisor signal the flight crew to release brakes even though they were still working and a belt loader was pulled up to the aircraft.