A320
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Type 1161
Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness
Conflict Ground Conflict; Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General None Reported / Taken
Company Policy; Procedure; Human Factors
We were just finishing our pushback and the brakes were set. The tug was still connected to the aircraft via towbar. We were pushed basically straight back. At this time; a CRJ-700 being taxied by maintenance crews cut in front of us to park at the gate we just pushed back from. The aircraft came in unmarshalled and the area was so tight he actually came into the gate line half way up. When he turned to line up with the line his engines were running pointed directly at the pushback crew. I estimate his tail about 20 ft from the pushback crew with his engines running. This put the ramp personnel directly in their jet blast creating an extremely unsafe condition. The ramp personnel were having difficulty standing up. They were eventually able to disconnect and then marshal the offending aircraft the last 5 ft into the gate. I do not know if any ramp personnel were injured. I contacted operations and told them about the incident.
A320 Captain reported a CRJ being taxied by maintenance personnel entered the ramp area and jet blasted the pushback crew.