Narrative:

After the doors were all closed we attempted to contact the pushback crew to prepare for the ensuing pushback via the interphone. It became apparent that the crew; without any contact with the flight deck either via hand signals or electric headset; started to push the aircraft with the parking brake set. I frantically tried to communicate with the pushback crew on the intercom; lights; ground calling; and all means available including calling into operations to try to get the pushback crew to stop! I was finally able to get the attention of a wing walker and by holding my arms crossed; the pushback crew finally stopped trying to push the aircraft with the parking brake set. After a few minutes someone on the pushback crew went and got a headset and communication was then established. I asked if they had indeed tried to push with the parking brake set and he replied; 'yes.' I proceeded to write the aircraft up and had the air stairway pulled back up to the aircraft and maintenance came up to the flight deck. An inspection of the aircraft for damage took place. The aircraft was inspected and properly documented in the maintenance log. We preceded to our destination with no further drama. There was a complete breakdown of procedures on the part of the pushback crew that should be investigated before a similar situation devolves into a nose wheel collapse with injuries.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B767 Captain reported that the pushback crew attempted to push the aircraft with the parking brake set.

Narrative: After the doors were all closed we attempted to contact the pushback crew to prepare for the ensuing pushback via the interphone. It became apparent that the crew; without any contact with the flight deck either via hand signals or electric headset; started to push the aircraft with the parking brake set. I frantically tried to communicate with the pushback crew on the intercom; lights; ground calling; and all means available including calling into operations to try to get the pushback crew to stop! I was finally able to get the attention of a wing walker and by holding my arms crossed; the pushback crew finally stopped trying to push the aircraft with the parking brake set. After a few minutes someone on the pushback crew went and got a headset and communication was then established. I asked if they had indeed tried to push with the parking brake set and he replied; 'Yes.' I proceeded to write the aircraft up and had the air stairway pulled back up to the aircraft and Maintenance came up to the flight deck. An inspection of the aircraft for damage took place. The aircraft was inspected and properly documented in the maintenance log. We preceded to our destination with no further drama. There was a complete breakdown of procedures on the part of the pushback crew that should be investigated before a similar situation devolves into a nose wheel collapse with injuries.

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.