Large Transport; Low Wing; 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Situational Awareness
Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Illness / Injury; Ground Event / Encounter Object; Ground Excursion Taxiway; Inflight Event / Encounter Object
Flight Crew Became Reoriented; Flight Crew Returned To Gate
Airport; Human Factors
While taxiing to runway 11 for departure; we knocked over one of the south side taxi lights on taxiway Alpha; between taxiways Charlie and Bravo. During pushback; the tug driver incorrectly pushed us squarely onto a parallel yellow line south of the correct Alpha taxi line. This driver seemed extremely inexperienced; using not one standard verbal challenge or response during the pushback; so much so that I cautioned the first officer concerning the driver's lack of standardization. While taxiing to runway 11 we were dealing with a request for the delayed load closeout. After the ramp area tapered away to just the Alpha taxiway we became aware of our error. I immediately stopped the aircraft; maneuvering to the North between the taxi lights; and continued to taxi. Tower informed us shortly thereafter that we had apparently knocked a light over. We reversed direction on taxiway Alpha at the ramp area south of the taxiway Bravo intersection to return to the gate to inspect the aircraft. When we passed the light in question; our tire tracks indicated that we had sideswiped and knocked over the light with the nose wheel; but had not run over the light as it appeared intact; but on its side laying towards the south. The first officer and I both inspected the gear and noted no damage to wheels or strut. After coordinating verbally with dispatch and [maintenance]; we concurred; no write-ups or reports required and after fuel top off; OK to proceed. During pushback; I had the operations manager check the bottoms of the wheels which were not visible while the airplane was parked. He indicated no damage. It is noteworthy that on the second pushback; an obviously more experienced tug driver; using ALL the correct terminology; pushed us squarely onto the correct Alpha taxi line. While taxiing out; it appeared as though airport personnel had placed the light back into position. During the later portion of the flight; while on a lavatory break; the Number 3 Flight attendant noted that she had lost her balance when we maneuvered over to the correct taxi line; and although the passengers had prevented her falling; her neck felt a bit sore.Although we both had the airfield diagrams displayed; we should have paid closer attention to our progress; especially as we exited the ramp area to the West; and not been distracted by the lack of a closeout. Also; stopping and requesting a marshaler may have prevented contacting the light. Strongly suggest a spot check of the operational proficiency of our block out crews in TNCC; to improve standardization.
Initially we were pushed onto the left edge of the taxiway. TNCC has multiple shades of black and grey pavement. Visually; this can be confusing in a large open paved space with multiple lines. I allowed myself to become distracted obtaining the Load Closeout and confirming performance numbers.
Air carrier flight crew reported they ran over a taxiway light following a push back by an apparently under-trained tug driver.