Narrative:

During our pushback after receiving our push clearance; another aircraft started pushing off [a nearby gate] when we were abeam their gate in the alley. We had a wing walker on that side and they did not have a wing walker. Once I realized they were pushing towards us I told our tug driver to stop the push and had my first officer query ramp control. Our tug driver was surprised they were pushing and told me it was close. He said they did not have a headset to talk to crew for that aircraft and that their ground crew were supposedly waiting for our tug driver's headset after our pushback. Upon query with ramp control; the controller told us we can both push with reference to pushing aircraft; we never heard that aircraft call for pushback nor were we advised of them or anyone else in the alley pushing back. I want to emphasize that both aircraft involved were winglet equipped aircraft and that the other aircraft did not have a wing walker on our side while also supposedly pushing without a headset. If it is true that we can push into alley off both gates simultaneously; I would like to see a caution in our [airport] pages as a reference. I was told by my ground crew after our pushback that we maybe had 20 feet clearance between wingtips and that was only because we stopped. I am glad tug driver responded quickly to my request to stop pushback and I can't imagine what would have happened if we did not have headset communication with our tug driver.working headsets for tug drivers; and if no headset; need all wing walkers present and reference other aircraft already pushing prior to push to be conservative.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A320 Flight Crew reported a near collision with an aircraft pushing back from the adjacent gate without their knowledge.

Narrative: During our pushback after receiving our push clearance; another aircraft started pushing off [a nearby gate] when we were abeam their gate in the alley. We had a wing walker on that side and they did not have a wing walker. Once I realized they were pushing towards us I told our tug driver to stop the push and had my first officer query ramp control. Our tug driver was surprised they were pushing and told me it was close. He said they did not have a headset to talk to crew for that aircraft and that their ground crew were supposedly waiting for our tug driver's headset after our pushback. Upon query with ramp control; the controller told us we can both push with reference to pushing aircraft; we never heard that aircraft call for pushback nor were we advised of them or anyone else in the alley pushing back. I want to emphasize that both aircraft involved were winglet equipped aircraft and that the other aircraft did not have a wing walker on our side while also supposedly pushing without a headset. If it is true that we can push into alley off both gates simultaneously; I would like to see a caution in our [airport] pages as a reference. I was told by my ground crew after our pushback that we maybe had 20 feet clearance between wingtips and that was only because we stopped. I am glad tug driver responded quickly to my request to stop pushback and I can't imagine what would have happened if we did not have headset communication with our tug driver.Working headsets for tug drivers; and if no headset; need all wing walkers present and reference other aircraft already pushing prior to push to be conservative.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.