Widebody Transport
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Communication Breakdown
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Event / Encounter Object; Ground Excursion Taxiway
General None Reported / Taken
Company Policy; Airport; Staffing
After a somewhat challenging approach; hazy visibility; and uneventful landing on Runway 10 at MUGM; we exited at the runway end. Taxi instructions were to join Taxiway Alpha; to enter the ramp at Taxiway Charlie. This was verified during taxi. Approaching taxiway Charlie; we were told to look for the follow-me truck. Two truck vehicles were driving on the ramp; but it was not clear which was the follow-me truck. We started to turn on Charlie as the vehicle stopped at our 11 o'clock position. As it pulled forward and we followed; we could then see it was indeed the follow-me. I did not realize our right gear had taxied off the taxiway. I believe we were both distracted looking for the follow-me truck at an unfamiliar airport. This led to what obviously was a turn that put the right gear off the taxiway pavement. Suggest better attention by the crew along the entire taxi route; and better backup. Also the follow-me truck being on the center taxi line directly ahead of the aircraft.
The inbound flight struck some taxiway lights at MUGM. The flight crew called the Duty Officer directly. The Duty Officer advised them not to depart until he could consult with flight management. They departed without authorization from flight management. Operations Control was not notified of the incident or instructed to hold the flight until after the flight departed MUGM. Operations Control should have been included in the notification to the Duty Officer and the decision to hold the flight while gathering additional information. Include Operations Control in all communications regarding operation of the flight.
After landing at Leeward Point Field at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay; flight crew reported they taxied off the taxiway with the right main landing gear and struck taxiway lights while attempting to discern which of the two airport vehicles at the scene was the Follow-Me truck. Dispatchers reported that the crew then took off on the next flight without contacting the Duty Officer.