Air carrier flight crew reported they were cleared by ATC to cross a runway that had an aircraft on take-off roll. As the flight crew taxied toward the runway hold short line; ATC directed them to stop when they realized another aircraft was rolling. Flight crew stopped aircraft and crossed after departure was airborne.
Synopsis
Air carrier flight crew reported they were cleared by ATC to cross a runway that had an aircraft on take-off roll. As the flight crew taxied toward the runway hold short line; ATC directed them to stop when they realized another aircraft was rolling. Flight crew stopped aircraft and crossed after departure was airborne.
Narrative
Air carrier flight crew reported they were cleared by ATC to cross a runway that had an aircraft on take-off roll. As the flight crew taxied toward the runway hold short line; ATC directed them to stop when they realized another aircraft was rolling. Flight crew stopped aircraft and crossed after other aircraft had departed.After landing [Runway] XXR in ZZZ we cleared rwy and taxied 1 to 2 and were instructed to holdshort of rwy XXL on [taxiway] 1. After a few minutes and multiple departures on XXL we heard that Aircraft Y was cleared for takeoff. Then we heard Aircraft Z was told to line up and wait. Moments later we got a clearance to cross rwy XXL at [taxiway] 1. As I slowly initiated power to cross; I looked left at the aircraft I thought was holding with their lights on. I was trying to determine if it was moving or stopped. Unbeknownst to us; this was Aircraft Y commencing their take-off roll. At the same time that I thought this aircraft was possibly rolling; I started to stop our aircraft; it was then that the Tower Controller told us to Aircraft X; Stop; Stop;Stop !" At this point I could tell Aircraft Y definitely was rolling. We went about 20 ft. past the HS line on txwy 1; but still probably 50 ft. short of rwy XXL. Aircraft Y took off in front of us. After receiving the clearance to cross rwy XXL a second time; neither my copilot or I realized that Aircraft Y had not taken off yet. Only hearing and thinking Aircraft Z was holding in position. I called ATC after block in and talked with Person A; Tower Supervisor. He called backed and notified me that we did nothing wrong and that this would be filed as a Controller error.Cause: Weather at the time was night; rain; visibility 2-3 mi; 800 ft. ovc. Atc twr loss of situational awareness; lack of Runway Status Lights (RWSL); both RHLs & Takeoff Hold Lights (THLs); high operation tempo at ZZZ.Suggestion: The Controllers; crew and gnd radar were the last lines of defense in what could have been a very different outcome."
Second reporter narrative
After landing XXR in ZZZ we cleared the runway and were instructed to taxi 1 to 2 and hold short of XXL on [taxiway] 1. We held for a few minutes for several departures. Then we heard Aircraft Y cleared for takeoff and Aircraft Z cleared to lineup and wait XXL. Moments later we got a clearance to cross XXL at 1 and taxi to spot X and contract ramp. I cleared right and the CA was looking left as he pushed up power to start crossing. The CA realized the aircraft was rolling as tower controller told us stop. We had gone about 15 ft. past the hold short line on 1 but were still short of the XXL runway by about 50 ft. Aircraft Y took off and then we were one again cleared to cross XXL at 1 to ramp. After receiving our clearance to cross runway XXL the second time neither the CA or I had realized Aircraft Y had not taken off yet. We were only thinking that Aircraft Z was holding in position. The CA called the tower after block in and talked with the tower supervisor. They notified us that it was controller error as he controller cleared Aircraft Y for takeoff and then cleared us to cross before verifying the runway was clear. Cause: Wx - night; rain; viz was 2-3 SM; 800 ft. overcast; Lack of Runway Status Lights (RWSL); both RHLs & Takeoff Hold Lights (THLs); high ops tempo at ZZZ. Suggestions: Add status lighting system like RWSLs.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.