B777-200
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 120; Flight Crew Type 4000
Communication Breakdown; Time Pressure
Conflict Ground Conflict; Critical; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Other / Unknown
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action; Flight Crew Returned To Gate; General Physical Injury / Incapacitation
Procedure; Environment - Non Weather Related; Airport
We were beginning our initial taxi. The push crew stopped us very close to the 767 parked on our right; which is unfortunately normal for this gate. It requires a very careful beginning to the taxi away from the crowded gate area in a large airplane like the 777. We received our taxi clearance from Ground; with instructions to proceed to Taxiway Bravo after an RJ passed off our left wing. We saw an RJ taxi by on our left on B; and moved to join A to E to Bravo; as instructed. I was still concerned with how close we were to the airplane on the next gate; so I was paying a lot of attention to that; simultaneously ensuring that I didn't use excessive thrust with our tail pointing toward the gates behind us. As we all agreed we were clear of the aircraft; I continued toward the A Taxiway. We were barely moving; and the augmenting First Officer called out very urgently and loudly; 'WAIT; STOP; STOP; STOP.' I immediately applied the brakes and stopped the airplane; just then seeing another RJ pulling into view from behind us on our left; on Taxiway A. We waited for him to pass completely; and clear; and then proceeded as directed by Ground. There had been no time for me to evaluate the relative speeds; distances; etc; to see if it might be possible to stop more gently; and still avoid a collision; as things happened so fast. The urgency and volume (appropriate; in my view) of the callout from the First Officer to 'STOP' told me that he had seen something he judged to be a serious threat; and I treated it as such; stopping immediately. The airplane stopped much more abruptly than I have experienced before; due to the fact we were hardly moving and there wasn't much momentum yet. However I wasn't even sure I had seen the same threat he had observed; and I thought we had possibly misjudged the clearance on the 767 next to us; or that a vehicle or personnel on the ramp had pulled in front of us. After he made it clear that he was indeed seeing the same aircraft I spotted; after that airplane cleared; and as we were restarting our taxi; I voiced my concern for our flight attendants; hoping no one had been injured; and just at that moment; the Cabin Call sounded; with the Purser calling to tell us she had fallen and was injured. We told Ground we needed to return to the gate; called ramp; and were cleared to return our gate. After arriving at the gate; I went back to the cabin; and found that the Purser had fallen backward into the aisle; and had hurt her shoulder and back; as well as a scrape on her elbow. Another Flight Attendant in the rear was also injured; though not as badly. We were met at the gate after a short time by paramedics; Inflight Supervisors and one other supervisor I did not get a name for. Assistant Chief Pilot came up later from Flight Operations. All were very helpful and offered whatever assistance they could after seeing that the injured flight attendants were taken care of. It was decided that both would be transported for evaluation to a Health Care Center. We got two replacement flight attendants from another flight; the First Officers coordinated a fuel top off; we talked with Dispatch; and pushed back about one hour behind schedule for departure. The remainder of the flight went without incident.
[Narrative 2 contained no additional information.]
A B777 Captain made a sudden stop to avoid a fast taxiing RJ after the Relief First Officer commanded STOP. In the process; two flight attendants were injured then removed from the flight after returning to the gate.