B757 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Workload; Time Pressure; Situational Awareness; Communication Breakdown; Confusion; Distraction
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Event / Encounter Other / Unknown
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action; Flight Crew Overcame Equipment Problem
Aircraft; Equipment / Tooling; Procedure
The 757 aircraft was safely pushed out the gate envelope with two wing walkers. Once on the taxiway; when ready to do so the Pushback Driver signaled 'brakes set' which was re-signaled back to the driver by myself. The Pushback Driver assisted me in disconnecting the tow bar. Once the Pushback Driver was back in the driver's seat the Pushback Driver signaled 'disconnect headset' which I re-signaled back to the Pushback Driver. Upon attempting to disconnect the pin and the headset; the aircraft began to move forward. The headset was disconnected from the aircraft. Then the Pushback Driver informed me to get in; but due to the positioning of the pushback with the tow bar and the forward motion of the aircraft; it was unsafe to do so; because I would have been in between the aircraft's landing gear and the tow bar. So for my personal safety; I retreated away from the aircraft toward the gate; during which I witnessed the Marshaller in front of the aircraft still signaling 'stop' to the flight deck. While she was also retreating away from the aircraft a Toyota towing tractor swiftly picked her up. Upon returning to the gate; I informed the Pushback Driver that I was unable to safely remove the pin from the aircraft's landing gear. Once the 757 aircraft had stopped approximately 100 feet from its original position the Pushback Driver promptly went back to the nose gear and removed the pin safely. No employees reported injuries from the incident and no equipment was reported damaged either.
A B757 began taxiing before the Ramp Agent successfully removed the steering bypass pin so the ground crew retreated to the gate and when the aircraft stopped; returned to remove the pin.