Helsinki Airport urged to improve markings after plane collision

Finland’s Safety Investigation Authority (Otkes) has recommended clearer markings at Helsinki-Vantaa Airport following an August 2025 collision between a passenger plane and a stair vehicle.

The incident, which caused no injuries, occurred when the left wing tip of a Juneyao Airlines aircraft struck a stationary stair vehicle on the apron. Otkes found that apron markings were partly inconsistent and difficult to interpret, contributing to unsafe conditions.

Investigation lead Janne Kotiranta noted that the apron’s phased construction, growing passenger numbers, and larger aircraft have made parking areas congested, complicating ground handling. He added that vehicles are sometimes parked against guidelines, leading to undesirable work practices.

Otkes also called for a unified risk assessment procedure, better coordination of overall apron safety, and a shared deviation reporting system accessible to all operators to improve cross-organisational learning from near-misses.