Narrative:

After pushback from gate; engine start was normal and pushback crew was released after tow bar was disconnected. We had been given a runway change and departure reroute; so we were in the process of re-briefing the departure and engine out procedure when the aircraft jolted. I immediately knew we had been hit by something and instantly saw a dc-10 belonging to another carrier passing off of our right side on taxiway. I told the first officer that I thought we had just been hit by the dc-10 and to look at our right wing area and he confirmed that most of our right winglet was torn off of our airplane. It appeared to me that the dc-10 did not realize that he hit us as he continued down the taxi way for takeoff. At this time I contacted ground control to inform them that we had been hit by another carrier and to inform them that they probably had damage to their left wing. Airport operations was notified by the tower; and an airport ops vehicle was at our airplane within a minute to inspect the damage along with company ground personnel. It was ascertained that there were no fuel leaks or any other problems that required immediate evacuation of the aircraft; so airport protocol for a taxi accident was followed. We were given pushback clearance from the tower and the other carrier was given permission to taxi without restrictions. The pushback tug pushed us back to the normal position agreed upon by ATC and airport operations. I don't think there is enough room from the centerline of taxi line and where our 737-700 wing tip ends up after pushback for an aircraft with a wingspan of a dc-10 which is approximately 164 ft to pass safely by on taxiway. In my opinion; a taxi restriction for aircraft over a certain wingspan not to be able to pass by pushed back aircraft along taxiway.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: After pushback with engines running; B737 Captain reports right winglet shorn off by passing DC-10.

Narrative: After pushback from gate; engine start was normal and Pushback Crew was released after tow bar was disconnected. We had been given a runway change and departure reroute; so we were in the process of re-briefing the departure and engine out procedure when the aircraft jolted. I immediately knew we had been hit by something and instantly saw a DC-10 belonging to another carrier passing off of our right side on Taxiway. I told the First Officer that I thought we had just been hit by the DC-10 and to look at our right wing area and he confirmed that most of our right winglet was torn off of our airplane. It appeared to me that the DC-10 did not realize that he hit us as he continued down the taxi way for takeoff. At this time I contacted Ground Control to inform them that we had been hit by another carrier and to inform them that they probably had damage to their left wing. Airport Operations was notified by the Tower; and an Airport Ops vehicle was at our airplane within a minute to inspect the damage along with Company Ground personnel. It was ascertained that there were no fuel leaks or any other problems that required immediate evacuation of the aircraft; so Airport protocol for a taxi accident was followed. We were given pushback clearance from the Tower and the other carrier was given permission to taxi without restrictions. The pushback tug pushed us back to the normal position agreed upon by ATC and Airport Operations. I don't think there is enough room from the centerline of taxi line and where our 737-700 wing tip ends up after pushback for an aircraft with a wingspan of a DC-10 which is approximately 164 ft to pass safely by on Taxiway. In my opinion; a taxi restriction for aircraft over a certain wingspan not to be able to pass by pushed back aircraft along Taxiway.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.