B737-700
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 515
Communication Breakdown
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Event / Encounter Other / Unknown; Ground Incursion Runway
Flight Crew Overcame Equipment Problem
Human Factors
The tug driver appeared to be inexperienced. Had difficulty positioning the aircraft on the parallel taxiway and left us on about a 30 degree angle. The COMM with the tug driver was very weak. When the tug disconnected we were not on the taxiway.
The ground crew that pushed our aircraft back was in training. Halfway through the pushback the tug driver stopped and tried to realign the tug to complete the pushback. Unfortunately he couldn't do it and his trainer had to take over. But during the crew swap to drive the tug; the aircraft was left at an angle and the tail section may have encroached the runway. An additive condition to the event was the difficulty communicating with the tug driver. We could barely hear him. Another condition was the layout of the airport in ZZZ. The ramp is small; congested and has an active runway right behind it making a pushback difficult and challenging for the tug driver.Testing of wireless headsets prior to push to establish clear communication between flight crew and ground crew. Not training a new crew on pushback procedures while the aircraft is involved in a quick turnaround due to delayed arrival. Training new crew on pushback in ZZZ should take place while the aircraft is parked overnight or early morning; with ATC approval and with [the nearby runway] closed or not utilized. Allow the driver to become proficient without the time pressure of line operations and a busy airport environment.
B737 flight crew reported pushback tug driver inexperience resulted in communications breakdown and runway incursion.