Had the rather unfortunate and total opposite version of this returning from IAD last week... arrived early, and parked at a C gate well ahead of schedule, cue a long wait for doors to open. Eventually transpired that the HAL staff had somehow managed to crash one branch of the jetty into another, placing the airbridge out of service - to the obvious horror and consternation of the captain. After a half hour wait, and much chin-stroking by HAL staff on the ground, a very full 747 was de-planed via the rear stairs, leaving some very grumpy F and CW pax at the very back of a long line...