Narrative:

After starting engine 1 after being pushed back in ZZZ we had an ECAM. We asked ground if we could stay where we were at the mouth of the alley by [the] gate to troubleshoot our problem. Ground said it was ok for a little while and that we weren't in the way.we called maintenance; did 2 resets and solved the problem. Ground began to want us to move. We then started engine 2. During the start ground asked again when we would be able to move as we were blocking someone else's push. The captain cleared the ground crew to disconnect. During the after start checklist; ground called again asking when we would be able to taxi. I don't remember exactly what I said when I got to the checklist item 'salute'. I couldn't see anyone outside and probably said something like 'waiting for a salute.' apparently the captain only heard 'salute' and so when I got finished talking to ground the captain called for 'flaps 2; taxi check'. I got taxi clearance; we cleared the area and initiated the taxi. She thought I said I got a salute and I assumed she got a salute on her side. As soon as we started to taxi I saw the tug out my right side window darting out from under the right side of the plane. I told the captain to stop and she did.there was then confusion between the ground person and myself. He was clearly agitated and signaling to me but I was unable to tell what he wanted us to do. He continued to look and signal to me (but I wasn't sure what he wanted) and was then looking under the plane. Eventually he ran and got a headset and communicated to us that they had still been near the nose wheel when we began to taxi. His agitation was completely warranted and he was still concerned for his co-worker that had still been under the plane. They then moved everything and everyone out of the way and waived us on. We taxied out and the rest of the trip was uneventful.I believe there were multiple causes for this incident.1. There was distraction caused by the ECAM and more acutely by ground control's increasing irritation with us blocking the alley.2. There were only 2 people on the ground involved in the pushback and they both disappeared. We should change our policy to always include someone on the ground in sight of the cockpit at all times when someone is under the aircraft where they can't be seen from the cockpit. 3. The way I used the checklist should have been different. I should never have used the word 'salute' until I actually had one. From now on; when there is a pause in the after start checklist I will say 'holding on the checklist.'4. As always there is a sense of pressure for on time performance and a reluctance to return to the gate where we would not have been in the way.we could have acted more quickly to what the ground person wanted us to do if he had been using standard hand signals. I still don't know what he wanted us to do but I think he may have wanted 1 or both engines shut down as the other ground person was probably still under the plane. I'm in no way criticizing the ground personnel; they were in a terrifying situation.[suggestions]1. Always have someone in sight of the cockpit crew any time there is anyone under the plane where they cannot be seen by the cockpit. If there are wingwalkers can they move forward to be that person once the airplane is stopped and the ground crew is disconnecting?2. Sometimes there is no one to get a salute from. It is not uncommon for ground crews to leave the area or drive away when they have given a salute and for some reason have not yet received one in return. This is usually caused by a distraction in the cockpit. By the time we are ready to look for their salute; they are already gone. This is not common but not unusual either and we become accustomed to occasionally not getting a salute. They should know they need to receive a salute in return.3. Hindsight being 20/20 we should have asked to move to someplace more out of the way to sort out our problem.4. Better checklist technique on my part.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A330 First Officer reported they started to taxi prior to the ground personnel giving a salute.

Narrative: After starting engine 1 after being pushed back in ZZZ we had an ECAM. We asked ground if we could stay where we were at the mouth of the alley by [the] gate to troubleshoot our problem. Ground said it was ok for a little while and that we weren't in the way.We called maintenance; did 2 resets and solved the problem. Ground began to want us to move. We then started engine 2. During the start ground asked again when we would be able to move as we were blocking someone else's push. The Captain cleared the ground crew to disconnect. During the after start checklist; ground called again asking when we would be able to taxi. I don't remember exactly what I said when I got to the checklist item 'Salute'. I couldn't see anyone outside and probably said something like 'waiting for a salute.' Apparently the captain only heard 'salute' and so when I got finished talking to ground the Captain called for 'flaps 2; taxi check'. I got taxi clearance; we cleared the area and initiated the taxi. She thought I said I got a salute and I assumed she got a salute on her side. As soon as we started to taxi I saw the tug out my right side window darting out from under the right side of the plane. I told the Captain to stop and she did.There was then confusion between the ground person and myself. He was clearly agitated and signaling to me but I was unable to tell what he wanted us to do. He continued to look and signal to me (but I wasn't sure what he wanted) and was then looking under the plane. Eventually he ran and got a headset and communicated to us that they had still been near the nose wheel when we began to taxi. His agitation was completely warranted and he was still concerned for his co-worker that had still been under the plane. They then moved everything and everyone out of the way and waived us on. We taxied out and the rest of the trip was uneventful.I believe there were multiple causes for this incident.1. There was distraction caused by the ECAM and more acutely by ground control's increasing irritation with us blocking the alley.2. There were only 2 people on the ground involved in the pushback and they both disappeared. We should change our policy to always include someone on the ground in sight of the cockpit at all times when someone is under the aircraft where they can't be seen from the cockpit. 3. The way I used the checklist should have been different. I should never have used the word 'salute' until I actually had one. From now on; when there is a pause in the after start checklist I will say 'holding on the checklist.'4. As always there is a sense of pressure for on time performance and a reluctance to return to the gate where we would not have been in the way.We could have acted more quickly to what the ground person wanted us to do if he had been using standard hand signals. I still don't know what he wanted us to do but I think he may have wanted 1 or both engines shut down as the other ground person was probably still under the plane. I'm in no way criticizing the ground personnel; they were in a terrifying situation.[Suggestions]1. Always have someone in sight of the cockpit crew any time there is anyone under the plane where they cannot be seen by the cockpit. If there are wingwalkers can they move forward to be that person once the airplane is stopped and the ground crew is disconnecting?2. Sometimes there is no one to get a salute from. It is not uncommon for ground crews to leave the area or drive away when they have given a salute and for some reason have not yet received one in return. This is usually caused by a distraction in the cockpit. By the time we are ready to look for their salute; they are already gone. This is not common but not unusual either and we become accustomed to occasionally not getting a salute. They should know they need to receive a salute in return.3. Hindsight being 20/20 we should have asked to move to someplace more out of the way to sort out our problem.4. Better checklist technique on my part.

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.