Large Transport
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 93
Communication Breakdown
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Event / Encounter Other / Unknown
Aircraft Aircraft Damaged; General Flight Cancelled / Delayed; General Maintenance Action
Company Policy; Human Factors; Procedure
Pushing back from the gate; I asked the tug driver if I could start the engines; he said yes. We started the right engine as the tug came to a stop. The tug driver then proceeded to pull us forward I said don't pull us forward with the engine running and received no response. We began to pick up speed and I was afraid we would overtake the tug so I yelled 'stop stop stop'. I received no response so I applied the aircraft brakes stopping the aircraft and breaking the tow bar hold back fitting in the process. After coordination with appropriate authorities; we taxied to a remote parking spot and had the aircraft repaired.I should have specifically asked the tug driver if he would be pulling us forward; and delayed the engine start until we were stopped. This was my first time in MMMX and I should have been more cognizant of procedural differences.
MMMX company airport page does state 'Gates XX-XY may require a push/pull procedure. Verify with tug driver prior to starting engines.' We asked the tug driver if we were cleared to start engines; and were told we were cleared. Every other Station we fly to advises us prior to a push/pull procedure to either 1) standby engine start; or 2) states that it is a push/pull procedure. When we were cleared to start; we assumed that to mean that we were not expecting a push/pull procedure. After the fact; we learned from the Station Manager that [our] gate is not a normal gate for company flight operations; so normally there is not a need for push/pull. I have to assume that other airlines allow their aircraft to be pulled forward with engines running; because the tug driver seemed unaware of our procedures. I would recommend either changing the verbiage in the MMMX airport page to 'Gates XX-XY will require a push/pull procedure' or 'Verify push/pull with tug driver prior to starting engines.' Another option would be changing the procedure at international stations without company ground personnel to not starting engines until the push or push/pull procedure is complete. The miscommunication between the flight and ground crews resulted in a potentially unsafe situation; which was further exacerbated by an apparent difference in push procedures between air carriers in addition to language barriers.
Miscommunication with flight crew and tug person resulted in damage to the tow bar and aircraft.