20140202001899I

At approximately 1921 local flight #729 (dca-iah) was pushed from gate 12 at the same time a delta aircraft was being pushed from gate 18. The pushback proceeded at a normal rate of speed, the pushback operator concerned with the delta aircraft off his tail stopped the push short which ended up leaving the tow bar at a less then idea angle for disconnect. The pushback operator then directs the captain to set brakes and gives the clear to start engine command (position #1). The wing walker on aircraft right side proceeds to the pushback and is given the signal to disconnect. Because the tow bar was not in line with the aircraft the wing walker had planned to disconnect the tow bar from the tractor first in an effort to relieve the tension and then disconnect from the aircraft.  At that point, the marshaler leaves his position at the front of the aircraft and approaches the pushback, he advises the pushback operator that he would straighten out the tow bar and proceeded to get into the pushback vehicle. When attempting to straighten the tow bar he pulled the aircraft forward with the pushback in reverse, as he applied the brakes the pressure on the tow bar was so great that the aircraft would not stop. He continued to apply the brakes but because of the angle, the aircraft continued forward causing the tow bar to come into contact with the bumper snapping it in half. When the tow bar broke the pushback operator jumped out of the pushback and ran away from the aircraft and was not injured. The aircraft continued rolling forward wedging the pushback between the engine and fuselage dragging it approximately 20 yards. Substancial damage to engine #2 and bottom of fuselage was sustained.

Note: both engines were running when the incident occurred.