Date: 201711
Local time of day: 0601-1200
Location: TYS.Airport, TN
Flight conditions: VMC
Light: Daylight
Aircraft: Medium Transport; Low Wing; 2 Turbojet Eng
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Passenger
Flight phase: Taxi
ATC / advisory: Ground ZZZ
Second aircraft: Medium Transport; Low Wing; 2 Turbojet Eng
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: Pilot Not Flying; First Officer
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Human factors: Situational Awareness; Communication Breakdown
Second reporter function: Captain; Pilot Flying
Anomaly: Conflict Ground Conflict; Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Detector: Person Ground Personnel
When detected: Taxi
Contributing factors: Staffing; Human Factors
Primary problem: Staffing

Narrative: Our aircraft push crew commenced pushback. At the time of push both the Captain and myself were unaware that the push crew was short one person (only one wing walker). The aircraft came to a sudden and abrupt stop during the push and the tug driver became noticeable upset; threw his headset down and jumped off of the tug. It was at this time we were informed that we nearly were pushed into Aircraft Y that had recently pushed off of the gate next to us. The tow crew moved us to a spot next to them and let us know we had not contacted another aircraft; ramp equipment; or any other objects. Also; at this time we were informed that they had pushed us back shorthanded. Upon learning this the Captain contacted operations at TYS where the ramp crew member on the other end was rude; standoffish; and non-apologetic about their mistake. In his words 'don't tell us how to do our job; it's not our fault; we are trying to get a mainline flight out.' While we were on the taxiway out to the runway ground control contacted us and told us Aircraft Y would like to speak to us. At this time I contacted them on the second radio and told us just how close we had come to contacting them. They said that on push our left engine had come about 2 feet from the FO side window; and then the wingtip was moved about 8-10 feet from the nosecone. We did not end up with an incident or accident but only by a narrow margin.The ground crew at TYS needs to be retrained and if they cannot provide each aircraft with the necessary 3 crew members then they should hire more employees. It appears that an on time departure took precedence over safety and procedure.


Second narrative: We pushed in TYS. I asked if push crew was ready for push. The tug driver replied yes. I initiated push back clearance with him. After about 20 seconds I could hear someone screaming to stop stop stop over the headset which appeared to be coming from the wing walker. The tug driver stopped and immediately jumped off tug after saying some expletives. He came back and said that his wing walker didn't tell him about the aircraft (Aircraft Y) parked behind us. He then kept maneuvering the aircraft and was obviously having some difficulty getting it safely away from the parked aircraft. I asked him if Aircraft Y was waiting to taxi out. He said yes they just pushed. I suggested to him he stop the push and let Aircraft Y leave the ramp area. He said no he would continue the push.After another minute or so of maneuvering; the other captain got on ops radio and started raising concerns about the push crew and how dangerously close they came to striking his aircraft with ours. He said the engine was about 2 feet from the FO (First Officer) window. The response from the ops guy was the guy was new (talking about the wing walker) and they had to get the mainline flight out next and were shorthanded. The other captain responded that they need to stop before they hit his aircraft and if they don't he will be calling this in. The ops guy responded well you don't have to get an attitude about it.So finally after the push was completed; we were parked [near] the other aircraft on the RON parking. This clearly indicated to me based on the positioning of the aircraft that this push required more personnel at the very least and perhaps not even a push considering the angle required to get us into that position in such close proximity of the other aircraft.I then asked ops if it was their SOP to only have 1 wing walker or are they required to have 2. He responded well the one guy is new and we are shorthanded and we have to get that mainline flight out next but yes they are required to have 2 wing walkers. I then responded that if they do not have the required personnel to push us; then do not push us until you do since the push crew almost caused a collision on the ramp with another airplane resulting in aircraft damage; cancelled flights; aircraft out of service. I explained to him in an authoritative voice; but professional; it is not worth the risk for what they just did. His response to me was well you don't have to get an attitude about it (this appears to be his favorite comeback when a conflicting situation arises with crew). I then responded that I do not have an attitude I am just stating facts and they need to do their job correctly and safely. His response was well don't tell us how to do our job. I was completely baffled by his response and lack of regard for safety and would consider this a complete disregard for safety. This entire staff from the airport manager all the way down to push crew need an immediate mandatory safety training event and an explanation of what safe procedures and SOP must be adhered to for a successful push. I feel this entire staff had no regard for safety and are operating under pressure from management to get aircraft out no matter how risky it might be.This push crew in my opinion didn't do a walk around before the push to establish that there were other aircraft behind us. Additionally; his wing walker did not tell the tug driver about Aircraft Y. However; in my opinion I don't understand how he could NOT have seen Aircraft Y parked behind us!


Synopsis: Air carrier flight crew reported being pushed back with only 1 wing walker which nearly led to a collision with another aircraft.