Situational Awareness; Communication Breakdown; Time Pressure
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Event / Encounter Object
Aircraft Aircraft Damaged; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; General Maintenance Action
Human Factors; Staffing
Aircraft X apparently hit a set of stairs on pushback with their right wing tip unbeknownst to the crew or Marshaller. A ground crew member saw it and called it in to his supervisor; who called it in to the Ops (Airport Operations). The plane at this point was on takeoff roll and wasn't in contact with Ops via radio anymore. After getting airborne; Ops took it into their own hands and called Tower and told them to have the flight return to field. I received an message from the crew asking why the return to field; which is when I started to make calls. This happened while the crew was at 3;000 feet and turning around. Crew landed uneventfully and the plane was taken out of service with visible damage to the right wingtip. No request was issued for a return to field as I felt in the short time frame; and with how busy the crew would have been setting up an unexpected approach; that it would have been unsafe to add more to their workload. Operations staff need to be fully aware of their limitations in regards to operational control of flights. Perhaps there needs to be a rapid communication procedure for the ground personnel; as they had to make several calls to get the information to someone who could have made a difference quicker.
After we took off and checked on with ZZZ Departure Control we were advised by the controller that Company wanted us to return to the airport. Upon questioning; the controller did not know the reason. I sent an ACARS message to our Dispatcher advising of an air turn back and asked why. His response was that he didn't know but would find out. We set up for the return to ZZZ and landed uneventfully and taxied to parking. Upon aircraft shutdown and secure a ZZZ maintenance representative met us inside the cockpit to advise us that the right wingtip possibly came into contact with a set of crew stairs during block out. We took a look at the wing and there was some minor damage to the right outboard leading edge slat just inside the right navigation light. At all times during the block out we were under the guidance and direction of the marshaller. Appropriate logbook entry made and reports submitted by both myself and First Officer. Reflecting upon blocking out; after engine start we cleared the mechanic and ascertained immediate area left and right were clear; I signaled the marshaller across the ramp and on the nose that we were ready to taxi out. We were marshaled straight out into the alley and given the signal for a left turn into the alley followed by a wave-off and salute. During the initial block out taxi roll; the First Officer mentioned the crew stairs seemed close; but from my position the stairs did not appear to be encroaching on the taxi lane and I continued to follow the marshaller's instructions. All marshaling signals were consistent with the aircraft being clear of any obstacles; and at no time did the marshaller give us a stop signal during the taxi out; nor did we feel any bump from the right wingtip possibly making contact with the crew stairs. I do not know if there was a wing-walker on the right wing due proximity of ground equipment between our aircraft and the aircraft to our right. I do recall a white ramp vehicle was encroached in the clear area to our right as we were blocking out; but the vehicle backed up out of the way. Recommendations: wing-walkers; all ground equipment clear; equipment safe boxes painted on the ground around the aircraft like in ZZZ1.
Air carrier flight crew and Dispatcher reported that the aircraft wingtip hit a set of stairs during pushback but that it was not communicated to the flight crew until after departure. An uneventful air return was made.