Ryanair plane rolls backwards into airport building

Ryanair is seeking an investigation into how one of its aircraft was damaged after it rolled backwards and crashed into a building at Ciampino airport in Rome on Wednesday.

A rear stabiliser on the Boeing 737-800 jet sustained extensive damage after the aircraft rolled into the building at the airport.

The incident happened on the same day that workers from Groundcare, the company responsible for Ryanair’s ground handling requirements, walked off the job in a row over pay.

Ryanair was forced to cancel dozens of flights on the day, including one from Dublin to Ciampino, as a result of the unexpected action.

The jet had operated an early morning flight from Ciampino to Madrid in Spain and back again. After arriving in Rome at around 10am, the aircraft was grounded after Groundcare workers staged an action.

It appears that workers failed to place wheel chocks beneath the jet’s wheels. The jet was empty when it rolled backwards from its parking position at around 4pm local time.

It is understood the jet may have moved up to 40 metres before hitting a building. It was reported locally that the plane crashed into the airport fire station.

Fire crews and airport personnel rushed to the scene.

An airline spokesman said: “Ryanair has asked the ground handling agent [Groundcare] to investigate why it failed to properly secure a Ryanair aircraft at Rome Ciampino Airport on 04 June.”

The Air Accident Investigation Unit of the Department of Transport here was informed of the incident.

A spokesman said: ““The Operator reported the event to the AAIU and in turn the AAIU forwarded that notification to the Italian authorities. Under international Convention it is unlikely that a safety investigation will be undertaken as no persons were on board at the time and there was no intention of flight.”