EasyJet A320 damaged after chocks prematurely removed

Investigators have found that undetected release of the parking brake and premature removal of chocks led to an EasyJet Airbus A320's suffering damage as it rolled backwards at London Gatwick. The crew had already carried out cockpit preparation checks, which included checking that the parking brake was on. Maintenance personnel subsequently probed a braking system defect, which had occurred on the previous sector, and this required the parking brake to be off. But there was "no requirement" to put the parking brake back on once the task was completed, says the UK's Air Accidents Investigation Branch, and the crew was left "unaware" that it had been released. The A320 was chocked at the time but, after a tug was attached for pushback, the chocks were removed – in breach of the operator's procedures which required chocks to remain in place until all ground equipment was clear of the aircraft. Forward boarding stairs were still in position at the time. Story has more.<br/>