A320
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 220; Flight Crew Total 9000; Flight Crew Type 7000
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Event / Encounter Other / Unknown
Flight Crew Returned To Gate; General Flight Cancelled / Delayed; General Physical Injury / Incapacitation; General Maintenance Action
Equipment / Tooling; Human Factors; Company Policy
During pushback; the aircraft came to an abrupt halt. I asked the Captain and he said there was a breakaway from the tow bar and he applied the brakes to avoid rolling into an active taxiway. (As First Officer I do not monitor cockpit to ground communication during pushback.) The aircraft rolled about 15 FT from the tow bar. I queried the Purser and she said the 2 flight attendants in the back were mildly injured (possible bruised back; stiff neck; injured hand). We returned to the gate for a maintenance inspection of the nose gear and no damage was found. The Captain called the Duty Manager and the decision was made that the 2 injured flight attendants would not continue as working crew members.
During pushback; the pushback crew yelled; 'Breakaway; breakaway; breakaway.' The tow bar became disconnected from the aircraft. Not knowing how much clearance I had behind me in the alley I applied the brakes and stopped the aircraft. After the brakes were set; I called the flight attendants to check on their condition. The Lead Flight Attendant said that two flight attendants in the rear had been hurt. We returned to the gate to have both the aircraft and the flight attendants checked over. I called Maintenance; the Duty Manager; and Dispatch.
A320 flight and cabin crew describe a break away from the tug during pushback that results in Flight Attendant injuries and a ferry flight back to base. During the ferry flight the flight attendants do not sit in their jump seats.