Date: 202101
Local time of day: 1201-1800
Location: ZZZZ.Airport, FO
Flight conditions: VMC
Aircraft: Commercial Fixed Wing
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Passenger
Flight phase: Parked; Taxi
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: Pilot Not Flying; Captain
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Human factors: Situational Awareness; Human-Machine Interface; Distraction; Confusion; Workload; Communication Breakdown
Anomaly: Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Event / Encounter Other / Unknown
Detector: Person Ground Personnel
When detected: In-flight
Result: General Flight Cancelled / Delayed
Contributing factors: Human Factors; Environment - Non Weather Related
Primary problem: Human Factors

Narrative: On pushback the towbar broke. When I heard the noise I looked down and saw that the brakes were still set. I had failed to verify that they were released. Fortunately; maintenance found no damage on the inspection. The flight continued normally after we received a new release.There were numerous contributing factors that led to this place. This was my first international trip in quite some time. There were many issues related to COVID-19 and catering. Chief of which was no ice being available. I tried to coordinate with the station to get some even asking if the terminal restaurants had some they would spare. No luck. There was also a discussion between myself and the First Officer regarding the rarely used method to obtain the ATC clearance in ZZZZ.The First Officer said he wanted to get home early and I believe he initiated the call to ground for the push before I was ready. I hadn't yet removed my mask. I did not have my audio panel properly configured and my mask was blocking my view of those switches. Ground Control gave us a push clearance then added a last minute query as to which runway we wanted which the First Officer and I discussed and verified.I either missed the pushback crew saying they were ready or they did not initiate the standard sequence so I had to verify that they were ready. Ground then told us to hold our push and that stopped me from releasing the brakes at that point when I normally might have done so. There was also confusion with the pushback location. I could not locate it on the charts. We were also using a gate in a part of the terminal neither myself or the First Officer had been at before.As I was re-configuring my audio panel my watch flashed a [personal message.] Although I did not read it; I noticed it. That took my out of my routine and although I felt my legs relax after I thought I hit the pedals to release the brakes; they were still set.Although I have been with the company many years; I have also not been flying much lately; 4 legs in the last 90 days or so. I also don't know why my watch flashed a message when my phone was off.In the end it was a failure to verify the status of the parking brakes. I will redouble my efforts to ensure a verification that the brakes indicate they are released in the appropriate sequence going forward.




Synopsis: Air carrier Captain reported not releasing the brakes before pushback resulting in a broken tow bar.  The Captain cited multiple distractions and lack of flying as contributing factors.