EMB ERJ 145 ER/LR
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Ground Event / Encounter FOD
Flight Crew Returned To Gate; General Maintenance Action
Airport; Environment - Non Weather Related
Taxiing; we were sequenced behind a 737. About halfway to the runway the Captain and I noticed a large plastic bag being blown behind the 737. Evasive maneuvering was not an option as the bag was being blown toward our aircraft possibly due to excessive thrust from the 737 and the bag attached itself to Pitot tube #1 on the Captain's side. The Captain pointed it out to me; and we both realized very quickly that the bag was not going to remove itself. We coordinated with ATC to go to the ramp area to have someone in operations remove the bag. Prior to getting to the [ramp]; the Captain noticed that the bag was emitting a visible residue resembling smoke and we immediately turned off the pitot heat. While monitoring the bag to ensure there was no threat of fire; we coordinated with maintenance; operations; and ramp control to make a gate return. Maintenance was already waiting for us at the gate and fixed the Pitot tube which had melted the bag and further cleared us to depart safely. We re-dispatched and operated the flight without further issue.FOD removal and awareness should be everyone's priority. We consistently report FOD to ground and ramp control who hopefully remove it. Proper recycling/disposal procedures can help save wildlife; and airplanes.
ERJ-145 First Officer reported that a plastic bag became stuck on one of their pitot tubes while taxiing.