Ground service vehicle collides with TUI Airways Boeing 787-9 in Barbados: no injuries reported

A ground service vehicle collided with a TUI Airways Boeing 787-9 registered G-TUIJ, scheduled to operate flight BY21 on 7 March from Barbados to London Gatwick with 342 passengers and crew, at Grantley Adams International Airport in Bridgetown.

The incident occurred while the aircraft was parked, and technical teams promptly responded. Fortunately, there were no casualties, and passengers were disembarked, awaiting alternative transportation.

As there were no seats available on the many other flights that left Barbados to the UK that evening, and since the nearby hotels were fully booked, most passengers had to spend the night uncomfortably at the airport. Only the crew, some passengers with small children and some disabled persons were accommodated in hotel rooms.

Most passengers eventually left Barbados the next day (8 March) on a smaller TUI Airways Boeing 787-8 registered G-TUID and arrived in Gatwick with a delay of more than 28 hours. The damaged aircraft returned to London on 9 March as ferry flight TOM908P.

An investigation has been initiated to determine the cause of the collision and assign responsibility.