B737-800
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Event / Encounter Vehicle
Flight Crew Returned To Gate
Human Factors
During pushback off in KATL; instructions from Ramp Control were 'Push approved tail north.' While under tow; we felt a slight jolt shortly after the start of the pushback. We stopped the pushback and were advised by Tug Driver that we had just struck a Provisioning Truck with the aircraft's left wing. We then got pulled back into the gate and deplaned.
During pushback with the aircraft under tow; a slight jolt was felt and the Tug Driver brought the aircraft to a stop. The Tug Driver then informed me the left wingtip had come into contact with a provisioning truck. The parking brake was set until Ground Personnel assessed the situation and made the decision to tow the aircraft back to the gate. Once at the gate; Passengers were deplaned and the aircraft was taken out of service. No injuries were reported by Passengers or Crew.Observation: After contact was made with the truck; I was surprised to see how far back the truck was parked and how little room there was for error. Since standard push procedures in ATL normally call for a tail north or tail south push; I was surprised a truck would be parked so deep in the push zone even though the truck was parked outside of the Safety Zone. It appears as if the Tug Driver started to turn the tail of the aircraft to the north (per Ramp instructions) too soon.
B737-800 crew reported contact with a truck during pushback at ATL.