Commercial Fixed Wing
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Confusion; Distraction; Situational Awareness
Conflict Ground Conflict; Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Human Factors
Taxied from ATL Cargo ramp via taxiway A7 at the ATL airport. Held at point A7 and Taxiway A heading south. While waiting for taxi clearance from ATL Ground Control; there were three vehicles holding at traffic lane. One on the east of aircraft and two on west side of aircraft. Ground control cleared us to taxi to Runway 26L via taxiway A; to cross 26R then to 26L. I started to taxi while clearing to the left for a turn on Taxiway A. Cockpit jumpseater urgently and loudly said 'STOP.' Observed the second truck on the west side of the aircraft had driven around the first vehicle; entered Taxiway A then turned toward aircraft and went under our aircraft. At first; thought the vehicle would strike the nose gear but the vehicle appeared on the left side of aircraft. We immediately told Ground Control that a truck had blatantly moved and drove under our aircraft while we were taxiing. We watched the truck driver rapidly drive to facility to the far east of the cargo ramp. Driver exited the utility truck and entered a pickup truck and proceeded to drive on the perimeter road; east of the western runways. This was a reckless and blatant disregard for safety; airport rules; security and procedures. Atlanta airport police have been notified; airport safety director was notified; and ATL Ramp Manager were notified.
An aircraft on ATL Taxiway A7 stopped rapidly as a van drove under its nose. ATL Ground Control; Airport Police were notified.