Commercial Fixed Wing
Situational Awareness; Distraction; Confusion; Communication Breakdown
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Event / Encounter Object
Human Factors; Procedure; Airport
While proceeding to my assigned task gate; I noticed the aircraft was on the J-line; which arrived 10 minutes early and was being held out till all ramp personnel arrived at gate. While I was wing walking the aircraft I noticed that the Jetbridge was not in proper stowbox area; so I proceeded to notify the marshal however he was unable to see me due to insufficient lighting and the jetbridge was blocking his view and was unable to see my signals; so I had to run up to front of aircraft to stop pilot and marshal from continuing to park the aircraft by then the damage had incurred.
Inbound scheduled to arrive XA:25 on the ground at XA:10. Both agents did not catch that the Jet Bridge was 30 yards out of the stow box; due to Maintenance (MX) working on Jet Bridge the night before. The sun was not up yet; dark out; and the yellow stow box hard to see. The Aircraft was stopped on J-Line waiting for the ramp to marshal in the Aircraft. The gate agents were in position but not familiar with this equipment. The ramp agents started at XA:00 ran out to meet the Aircraft but did not take the time to see Jet Bridge was not in the stow box. Aircraft marshaled into the cab of jet bridge; causing a hole in the left engine cowling.
Aircraft encountered damage to the #1 engine cowl because the ground crew was unaware that the Jet Bridge was out of position when they marshaled in the aircraft.