Air carrier flight crew reported a ground conflict with two departing military fighter aircraft while landing.
Synopsis
Air carrier flight crew reported a ground conflict with two departing military fighter aircraft while landing.
Narrative
On a revenue flight from ZZZ1 to ZZZ; we experienced a runway incursion involving our aircraft and an Aircraft Y that was a part of a two ship flight. It was a visual approach to Runway XX. We were coupled to the ILS until approximately 500 ft. I was the pilot flying. We had already been cleared to land and we were approximately 2 miles or less to the airport when Tower told us that a flight of two Aircraft Y would be departing the crossing runway; Runway XY. My First Officer acknowledged that transmission. We then noticed that the Aircraft Y were not in position on the runway rolling; but were just beginning to taxi onto the runway. I keyed the microphone and asked for confirmation of our landing clearance. The Tower controller canceled someone's; but the call sign was unrecognizable to me. Immediately after that transmission the controller confirmed that were cleared to land. As we were touching down the first Aircraft Y of the flight went through the intersection; airborne. I was unable to see the end of the crossing runway due to a tree line that was in between Runway XX and Runway XY; blocking our view. I then saw the second aircraft rolling down the runway as we were approaching the intersection. It was too late to perform a balked landing and I was afraid that if I did at the time I saw the first aircraft go through the intersection; we would have hit mid-air. I was also afraid that if I performed maximum breaking I would have stopped in the middle of the intersection. With limited options; my aircraft and the Aircraft Y crossed the intersection at the same exact time with the Aircraft Y pulling up over the top of us. Suggestions - We were unable to hear any transmissions from the military aircraft. This is probably due to them transmitting on a different frequency. If we were able to hear them; we would have recognized that they did not acknowledge their clearance cancellation. I'm not sure that would have made a difference since we intersected the runway at the same time. If we were able to perform a go-around early enough; then our altitude separation may have kept us from colliding in the air. Otherwise; the controller should have recognized that our airspeed on approach and their take off clearance were in conflict.
Second reporter narrative
While flying into ZZZ; we were given our descent late (which always happens). Despite this; we were relaxed in the cockpit; completing procedures at the appropriate time and getting the airplane configured for landing. Once again; they were late transferring us to Tower (called approach about contacting Tower when we passed the FAF). Once with Tower; she cleared us to land. We then heard her tell two Aircraft Y that they were cleared for take-off. She advised us that the flight of two would depart prior to our arrival. At this point we were on short final and noticed the Aircraft Y hadn't even taxied onto the runway yet. The Captain then keyed up to inquire with Tower to verify that we were cleared to land as the jets started to finally taxi into position. There was a long pause and then she told somebody to cancel their clearance. She then recleared us to land when we were maybe 300 ft. above the ground (very short final). At this point I could barely see one of the jets starting to move. If we chose in this moment to do a go around; there is a good chance our paths would have crossed with the [two] Aircraft Y. As we were landing; I was keeping my eye on the crossing runway as best I could; but there are trees that blocked our view. When we touched down; the first jet was just crossing our runway. We knew it was a flight of two; but I couldn't see where the second one was. As we slowed the aircraft; more of Runway XY became visible and we could see the second Aircraft Y lifting off the runway. The Captain did his best to slow us down; but we would not have stopped by the intersection in time had the fighter been lower. As we crossed the intersection; he went directly over our fuselage maybe clearing us by 100 ft. After the incursion; Tower said nothing about what had just occurred and just told us to taxi in. We were later informed that the passengers and flight attendants did notice the jet was close to us; but it appears that nobody realized what had almost just happened. Suggestions - Better ATC coordination and communication. We still aren't sure exactly whose clearance she canceled right before she cleared us to land for the second time. As this is my first experience with a situation like this; I will personally be more aware of my spacing with other aircraft and be more assertive over the radio if I think ATC may cause an incursion like this.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.