I've had a recent string of significant delays taxiing to the gate after landing, usually related to the gate being unavailable, and on more than one occasion, needing both A) a tug to the gate and B) having the tugger (tower?) be delayed for whatever reason.

Today was the kicker. DL 718 landed 45 min early to everyone's jubilation; needed a tug to the gate, fine. Then I hear a loud bang, followed by the captain sheepishly on the com telling us that the "tow bar" snapped off, and they need to get a new one, inspect the damage, etc. Half an hour with the gate tantalizingly in sight before we could deplane!

Has anyone ever heard of a "tow bar" issue before? It reminds of that old Seinfeld joke where your auto mechanic can just make up what's wrong with your car and you don't know enough to argue with them -- "Oh, I need a new Johnson rod, of course!"