Aircraft was being moved from 3 spot to 1 spot (aft facing), what actually happened is under investigation (possible braking system on the AWD tractor). As the AWD went over the deck edge the shear pin in the towing arm snapped (exactly what it is designed to do) and the AWD went over the side of the ship. The driver did not go into the water as stated in a previous posting, he managed to jump into the catwalk. The brake number in the aircraft was a bit shaken up but otherwise unhurt. Aircraft obviously is damaged (radome, nosewheel) but is still airworthy.
Comments like this below, which I am sure was written in jest are not helpful.
Just goes to show – Fish heads shouldn’t be trusted with flyinng machines:D
Aviation at sea is a dangerous job, I know, I have been doing it for 25 years and still get a buzz everytime I step out onto the flight deck. Unlike our light blue friends (stand fast Harrier boys), we are dramatically restricted in our ability to move aircraft due to space, other aircraft ops, pitching and rolling deck etc etc. The men and women who do this are professionals in every sense of the word.
Standing by for some ill thought out comment!
Si J
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