Air carrier flight crew reported that ATC cleared them to cross a runway that had another aircraft on takeoff roll. Upon seeing the other aircraft; the Captain stopped their aircraft past the hold short bars while the other aircraft continued their takeoff.
Synopsis
Air carrier flight crew reported that ATC cleared them to cross a runway that had another aircraft on takeoff roll. Upon seeing the other aircraft; the Captain stopped their aircraft past the hold short bars while the other aircraft continued their takeoff.
Narrative
After landing on runway XXR at ZZZ; the tower instructed us to ' Exit at [taxiway] 1; and monitor Tower on XXX.X'. The First Officer read back the instruction. As we proceeded towards runway XXC on taxiway 1 we heard Tower on XXX.X instruct us ' Cleared to cross runway XXC; hold short XXL on 1' The First Officer read back the crossing instruction and I continued moving forward; without stopping; to cross the runway. As we approached the hold short bars; I looked to my left and witnessed two aircraft holding short of runway XXL on taxiway 2 and the landing lights of an aircraft on what I thought was runway XXL starting a takeoff. After looking closer at the landing lights of the aircraft approaching us I realized that they were indeed on runway XXC. I immediately came to a stop and reported to the Tower that we were holding short of runway XXC. After the departing aircraft had passed our relative position; I asked the tower if we were cleared to cross the runway and the tower answered ' Sorry about that; you are cleared to cross XXC; hold short XXL'. We read the instruction back and proceeded across the runway. Further crossing XXL and taxi to our gate was uneventful. As we were waiting for the aircraft that was taking off to pass us; I noticed that approximately half of our aircraft was passed the hold short bars. After thinking about my statements to ATC; I may have mislead them with the statement that I was holding short of runway XXC when in fact I had crossed the hold bars. And then when I asked to cross; I should have asked if we were authorized to continue across the runway. I would estimate our position from the runway edge white line as approximately 150 feet horizontally and the aircraft rotated early in its roll so it cleared us at an unusually high altitude when it passed us at around 400-500 feet vertically.Cause: I am not sure as to why ATC instructed us to cross but I know that for my part; I allowed the forward momentum of the aircraft to continue in anticipation of a cleared runway when I heard the words I expected to hear that the runway was clear and we could cross. Suggestions: I should have not allowed my expectation of the runway being clear when I heard it was clear to cross. I should have looked more carefully before letting the aircraft across the hold short bars without knowing for sure that the runway was indeed clear. I will be much more vigilant in the future and not take ATC's word for it that the runway is indeed clear. That is why we clear left and right before we cross. I will taxi slower and be sure that the runway surface is clear before proceeding in the future.
Second reporter narrative
Upon landing at ZZZ on XXR we were instructed vacate the above runway on [taxiway] 1 and hold short of XXC. As we were rolling towards XXC on 1 we were given a new frequency; upon checking in with a new on controller on the new frequency we were instructed to cross XXC and hold short of XXL which I read back. Prior to beginning the crossing we verified left and right was clear. We were monitoring the frequency however; we did not hear anyone being cleared for take off on XXC. As we began our crossing we saw an aircraft rotating off of XXC (the runway we were cleared to cross). The captain immediately stopped the airplane. After which the captain got on the radio and inquired on what was going on. The controller apologized and instructed us to taxi across XXC for the 2nd time. We taxied across and from then on continued taxing to the gate without an incident. Cause: ATC.Suggestions: Be more vigilant and even more cautious when crossing runways; even when cleared/instructed to do so.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.