EMB ERJ 145 ER/LR
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Conflict Ground Conflict; Less Severe; Ground Event / Encounter Object
Aircraft Aircraft Damaged
Human Factors
During pushback off of gate; the tug driver stopped the aircraft abruptly. He told us via headset that personnel working on a gate behind us had left a baggage cart behind our aircraft. He told me that this was normal and they do it sometimes on purpose (I do not know the details of this; other than he said they don't get along with each other). A few seconds later we began pushing back again. We again stopped abruptly. I then asked what was going on again. He told me they were going to pull us back towards the gate and push us out tail east in the alley to get us off the gate and avoid any obstacles behind the aircraft. There was a wing walker at all times during these events. I was contacted by (company) safety department about damage found to the tailcone of the aircraft by maintenance personnel the next morning. Nothing else unusual happened during the taxi; takeoff; flight; or landing. This was our only flight in this aircraft. I find it possible that we were pushed into something (possibly a cart mentioned above) during the initial pushback; but not notified of it.
EMB-145 Captain reported Maintenance personnel found damage on the aircraft tailcone during post flight inspection.