A320
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 218; Flight Crew Total 3443; Flight Crew Type 1878
Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness; Training / Qualification
Conflict Ground Conflict; Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Incursion Taxiway
General None Reported / Taken
Human Factors
The day started when the push back crew asked for brake release without push clearance. This is a regular event in the Mexico cities as I am sure they are under a lot of pressure for on-time. That is not even close to how bad it got though. The Ramp Controller cleared us to push to spot 5. The Captain released the brakes and told the push crew the instructions. The man on the headset was not on the tug; but spoke enough English to understand. While pushing us back the ramp told us to stop and hold position due to an aircraft behind us. The Captain told the ground crew to stop; but they didn't listen. They kept pushing. The Captain had to open his window and yell stop to them while waving his hands until they finally stopped. It blows my mind that the man on the headset doesn't understand the word stop. After we stopped the Captain was trying to explain to the man that we were instructed to stop and then they started to push us back further again. Ramp controller told us to stop the aircraft again on radio 2. I told her we are having language issues with the push back crew and apparently they don't understand the word stop. She had to stop the other aircraft or equipment that we would have been in conflict with. I called Operations on radio 1 and said we needed someone on the headset who spoke English and understands the Captain's commands. They started to send someone out and for a third time the tug driver started to move the aircraft backwards again un-commanded. The Captain continued to yell stop the aircraft to the man on the radio and the instructions were completely ignored. I suggested to the Captain to set the parking brake but he feared that it would inflict damage to the nose wheel strut and continued to yell stop to the ground crew. In all my years flying airliners I have never experienced anything like this in any country. The ramp crew was going to do what they wanted with no regard for the Captain's commands. Very unsafe and we are lucky we weren't pushed back into another aircraft. If we had an onboard emergency and needed them to stop pushing the aircraft with the communication breakdown clearly this would have led to a serious issue or injury. The man on the headset continued to say ok stop; then ok we push you now. He is in no position to be on the headset. Clearly a language barrier is the issue even though he seemed to speak and understand English.
A320 First Officer reported a communication breakdown between the Push Crew and Flight Crew caused a potential aircraft conflict.