B737-700
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 345; Flight Crew Type 18000
Other / Unknown
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Event / Encounter Vehicle
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Human Factors
Taxiing into the gate and prior to entering the Safety Zone; we noted the zone was clear and a tug with two or three baggage carts in tow waiting on the right (First Officer's) side of the zone. Just as we began to enter the Safety Zone; I saw the tug at about my one o'clock position moving fast from my right to my left. My First Officer yelled 'stop' and I quickly applied the brakes and abruptly stopped the aircraft. The tug and baggage carts passed between five and ten feet in front of the nose of our aircraft. The tug passed quickly at a high rate of speed and I saw the Number 51 on the rear of the cab of the tug after the tug had passed. I immediately called Operations and asked for a Supervisor to meet me in the jetway (we were swapping aircraft). After arrival at the gate and exiting the cockpit; I asked the oncoming crew if anyone had seen a Supervisor and no one had. I waited about ten minutes and then asked the Agent to again ask for a Supervisor. The Supervisor then appeared after about five more minutes. I told the Supervisor what had occurred and he said he would look into it. I advised him that I would have to submit a report concerning the event because of the violation of safety procedures and the near accident that had occurred.
B737 Captain reports having to stop abruptly approaching the gate to avoid a tug pulling carts that suddenly cuts in front of the aircraft.