EMB ERJ 170/175 ER/LR
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Other / Unknown
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Procedure; Company Policy; Human Factors
While the First Officer (FO) was finalizing the weight and balance; I stepped out of the cockpit to use the Lav. The jump seater; flight attendant; and a passenger were standing in the forward galley. As I reached for the Lavatory knob I noticed there was a glaring entry of light through the main cabin door. I stepped toward the light and was able to squint enough to focus on the floor edge of the main cabin door where it stopped and revealed a drop straight down to the pavement below with no jetway in sight. I looked out the main cabin door and forward of the aircraft and saw the gate agent parking the jetway about 25 feet away from the aircraft. The ramp agent was in protest and told me that he advised the gate agent that the jetway could not be moved. I motioned at the gate agent to return the jetway and as she got closer I advised her that she cannot retract the jetway and leave until we close the main cabin door because someone will walk off the aircraft dropping straight to the pavement. We are all used to a jetway floor being attached to the aircraft and especially the crew is at risk for walking straight off the aircraft and not noticing there is no floor. I also advised that the procedure of waiting for the paperwork from the flight attendant and the flight attendant closing the main cabin door are key precursors for moving the jetway away from the aircraft. The gate agent returned just to grab the paperwork from me and then immediately started retracting the jetway again before we could close the door. I advised the flight attendant to grip the support handle firmly with one hand while reaching and closing the door with the other; as not to chance falling to the pavement.
A Captain reported the gate agent retracted the jetway before taking the closeout paperwork and closing the main cabin door. No jetway presence exposed the flight attendant to a potentially hurtful fall while closing the heavy door.