A Stansted Airport worker has been disciplined after a child fell to the ground through a six inch gap between the top of aircraft boarding steps and the aircraft door sill.

The two-and-a-half year old was rushed to hospital and treated for a fractured wrist and bruising.

An Air Accidents Investigation Branch report on the incident involving a Boeing 757, on September 20 last year, says the steps were immediately withdrawn from service.

The report states: "The steps at the rear of the aircraft had been positioned about one hour earlier and were used for disembarking a previous flight.

"The steps, on inspection after the incident, were found to have a damaged stabiliser mount on one side making its deployment difficult and also a missing foot to the jack.

"One of the other four stabiliser jacks was found to be in the retracted position.

"The handbrake was found in the off position. It is probable that the steps moved gradually from their original location as they were being used, thus creating a gap against the side of the aircraft."

The report states the worker who positioned the steps has been disciplined.

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