MD-80 Series (DC-9-80) Undifferentiated or Other Model
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Ground Event / Encounter Other / Unknown
Aircraft Aircraft Damaged
Weather; Aircraft; Equipment / Tooling
We arrived at the gate without incident. As ground personnel moved the jetbridge into position; a station agent advised us there was a malfunction with positioning the bridge and airport maintenance was on the way. After approximately 3 minutes; the jetbridge was moved fully into position and the canopy was lowered over aircraft. The Lead Flight Attendant opened the aircraft door and immediately noticed the jetbridge was approximately 1 foot below the aircraft door which would have made deplaning difficult. I got out of my seat to look at the situation and agreed. At this time station personnel raised the jet bridge and I heard a slight but odd noise and queried the jetbridge operator as to what it was. She informed me that there was ice and snow on top of the canopy from the previous night and it was indeed falling off on the sides of the jetbridge. I looked closely along the sides and underneath the jetbridge and noticed no damage. I then completed the post/preflight inspection; re-boarded the aircraft and flew the next leg without further incident. Approximately one hour later I received a call from the Captain who picked up our aircraft stating that a boarding jumpseat pilot on his flight had noticed something odd above the L1 door. Maintenance had been called out and found a cut approximately 6 inches long and 1 inch wide high above the L1 door. It is very likely that the damage was caused by the canopy of the jetbridge during the events described above.
A malfunctioning jetbridge may have been responsible for puncture damage to the fuselage skin above the boarding door of an MD-80.