Condor B753 at Frankfurt on May 20th 2024, sudden stop during taxi

Last Update: May 30, 2025 / 17:02:45 GMT/Zulu time

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Photo of Condor D-ABOB, Boeing 757-300 — Condor D-ABOB, Boeing 757-300 (Photo credit: Andy_Mitchell_UK / Flickr / License: CC by-sa)

Incident Facts

Date of incident
May 20, 2024

Classification
Accident

Airline
Condor

Flight number
DE-1504

Departure
Frankfurt/Main, Germany

Destination
Palma Mallorca, Spain

Aircraft Registration
D-ABOB

Aircraft Type
Boeing 757-300

ICAO Type Designator
B753

A Condor Boeing 757-300, registration D-ABOB performing flight DE-1504 from Frankfurt/Main (Germany) to Palma Mallorca,SP (Spain), was cleared for and was taxiing for departure from runway 18 on taxiway N near intersection with taxiway N8 (in front of the main terminals, about 1.4nm before reaching the runway) when the crew needed to stop the aircraft suddenly due to a ground vehicle. The crew managed to stop in time to avoid a collision, however, a flight attendant lost balance and received injuries. The aircraft returned to the stand where paramedics took care of the injured cabin crew, who was subsequently taken to a hospital.

The aircraft was able to depart 2:45 hours later and reached Palma Mallorca with a delay of 2:45 hours.

The airline stated: "Die Boeing 757, die als Flug DE1504 am 20. Mai von Frankfurt nach Palma de Mallorca geplant war, musste auf dem Rollweg in Frankfurt am Main stark abbremsen, weil sich trotz Rollfreigabe auf dem Fahrweg ein fahrendes Fahrzeug befand. Weitere Personen wurden nicht verletzt und der Flug konnte anschließend fortgesetzt werden. Die Ursachen des Vorfalls werden nun von den zuständigen Behörden untersucht.", translation: The Boing 757, planned as flight DE-1504 on May 20th from Frankfurt to Palma de Mallorca, needed to abruptly stop on the taxiway in Frankfurt because a moving vehicle was on the taxiway despite clearance. There were no additional injuries and the flight could subsequently be continued. The causes are currently being investigated by the authorities.

On May 30th 2025 the BFU released their final factual report without conclusions.

The BFU summarized the sequence of events:

After the flight crew had requested the taxi clearance, they received it from Frankfurt Ground (121.855 MHz): “[…] left turn, November eight, hold short November.“

The Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) recordings show that the flight crew checked the taxiway to the right and left before starting to taxi. Then the co-pilot can be heard saying: “Da kommt einer (someone is coming). Der hält hoffentlich an (hopefully he will stop). Hält der, hält der an (does he, does he stop). Hält der an (does he stop)? Hält der an (does he stop)? Hält der an (does he stop)?”. Directly afterwards, the braking can be heard.

According to the Flight Data Recorder (FDR) data the BFU analysed, taxiing from the parking position started at 0732:04 hrs. Within 12 s, the aircraft accelerated to 5 kt and was then brought to a stop within 2 s.

During the braking, one flight attendant fell in the cabin. According to her own statement, she had been busy with the seatbelt check and was abreast of the toilet block number four between the two toilets, as the airplane suddenly braked hard.

She had felt two braking actions. During the first, she had lost her balance and tried to support herself on the left toilet door, in taxi direction. The second braking action had been even sharper. With her back she had fallen against the back of the last row of seats in front of the toilet block number four. She had come to rest on her left in the aircraft aisle. Her head had point towards the cockpit. After the fall, she felt completely
immobile.

She received first aid in the aircraft and was then transported to hospital by helicopter.

The driver of the vehicle, who had approached from the right, said to the BFU that he had the order to get two luggage wagons. He had to keep an eye out for them. He had noticed the cordoning-off Follow-me vehicle and then the taxiing aircraft and stopped immediately. Initially, the airplane had continued to taxi but then stopped also. He had stood abreast of the parking position for the luggage wagons, where he should have been standing. There was no definite stop position or stop line. He had stopped late, because he had been distracted by the search for the luggage wagons. His gaze was directed to the left and not forwards.

The driver of the Follow-me vehicle described the situation as follows: He had positioned himself to the left of the taxi direction of the B757-300 on the taxi area road. He had the airplane and the road in view. The Ramp Agent had given the flight crew the signal to start taxiing and the airplane began to roll. From the west, the luggage car had approached, but had come to a stop already. As the airplane began to taxi, it began to move again too. The B757-300 braked to a stop. The driver of the luggage car then backed off a bit. At no time had the luggage car been in front of the aircraft nose.