AN EXECUTIVE jet used by Bill Clinton and another owned by a major Hollywood studio were damaged in an incident involving a tow truck at Dublin airport.
The two Bombardier Global Express aircraft collided when the driver who was towing one of the planes misjudged the distances between them.
The wing-tip of the plane owned by Paramount Pictures hit the nose of the other plane which, in turn, crashed into a parked service van beside it. Airline industry sources estimated the damage could cost up to $1 million (€620,000) for both aircraft.
The stationary Bombardier, registration number N20EG, is owned by Florida-based aviation company Aero Toy Store.
The incident happened on August 13th last year when the executive jet owned by Paramount Pictures was being towed to a part of the runway which was out of use at Dublin airport. The tug driver had claimed that the windscreen cracked before he hitched up the plane for towing. He also admitted that he misjudged the width of the plane he was towing.
However, he claimed that the taxiway lines at Dublin airport had confused him and a marshaller who was guiding planes into their slots had failed to warn him in time that he was dangerously close to the other aircraft.
Patrick Judge of the Air Accident Investigation Unit held that the tug driver had not maintained adequate separation from the parked aircraft. He also said the taxiway markings at Dublin airport were “incorrect and inadequate” and there was no wing markers in place as was required by aerodrome procedures. He recommended that the Dublin Airport Authority should ensure that its taxiways are adequately marked before towing unescorted aircraft. He also recommended that tug drivers should not be allowed to operate equipment in an unserviceable condition.
