B737 Next Generation Undifferentiated
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Situational Awareness; Training / Qualification
Conflict Ground Conflict; Critical
General None Reported / Taken
Human Factors
After pushing back from [the] gate we were given taxi instructions [to the runway]; we acknowledged the instructions and started to proceed northeast on the ramp taxi line. Approaching [the] taxiway we saw a 737 several hundred yards to the northwest being towed toward us; we initially thought the [B737] was on [our] taxiway and would block our progress to the runway so we stopped and queried ground control who informed us that the [B737] was not on [our] taxiway; but on the 'non-movement area' ramp and that he should give way to us and that we could proceed. As we were about to proceed forward; an A321 which was parked on a ramp hardstand to our left began a rapid pushback directly in front of our aircraft. It was so close that at first it appeared his movement would cause the left wing of the A321 to strike our aircraft. I immediately set the parking brake and radioed on the ground control frequency for the Airbus to stop its push; but the controller said that it was on a non-movement area and that he was not speaking to them. The Airbus continued its push in front of us with the left wing passing approximately 15 feet in front of the nose of the aircraft then continuing down the ramp. We attempted to call operations on the radio to report the incident but got no answer. Once we arrived at [destination] I attempted to call [departure airport] operations on the phone but got no answer. I am not sure the ground crew pushing the Airbus realized how close the wingtip of the airbus came to the nose of our aircraft as the wing walker was not near the end of the wing but positioned close to the body of the aircraft. I am also not sure the ground crew realizes the dangerous situation that could have occurred had I started to taxi forward at the same time he started to push in front of us. I had no idea he was about to push; and even if I had; I would have expected him to wait for us to taxi out before beginning his push. I am thankful I saw the Airbus start to move before I started my forward movement because at the rate of push of the Airbus a collision between the Airbus wingtip and the nose of my aircraft would have been catastrophic; even life threatening.I can only assume that when we stopped short of taxiway to ask the ground controller about the [B737] under tow; the crew pushing the Airbus thought we were waiting for him. The ground crew then rushed the push to get out of our way; coming closer to our aircraft and pushing faster than they normally would. As we all know; in aviation rushing is never the answer. I believe additional training of the BDL ground crews pushing/towing aircraft is in order with special emphasis on the fact the pushing/towing aircraft should give way to aircraft taxiing out unless they are given specific clearance to do otherwise by a ground controller.
B737 Captain reported his aircraft was almost hit by an Airbus that was being pushed back from an adjacent gate at BDL.