Flight Crew reported stopping taxi before hold short line with an ATC clearance to Line Up and Wait with traffic on short final; resulted in a critical ground conflict event.
Synopsis
Flight Crew reported stopping taxi before hold short line with an ATC clearance to Line Up and Wait with traffic on short final; resulted in a critical ground conflict event.
Narrative
The incident occurred at Toronto International Airport. I was Pilot Flying on flight from CYYZ to ZZZ. We were holding short of RW23 at taxiway hotel. The Tower Controller came on and instructed us to line up Runway 23." I repeated the instructions and we proceeded as instructed. As I'm doing my safety scan for traffic on final approach; I see Aircraft Y on short final for RW23. I alert the Captain immediately and we both engaged the brakes. Our aircraft was stopped before the hold short line. The aircraft on final had touched down when I made the call to Tower that we were still holding short of RW23. Then the Captain requested confirmation that we were instructed to line up on RW23; to which the Tower Controller did confirm. After the landing aircraft had cleared the runway; we were cleared for takeoff.Cause: Tower not confirming where the landing traffic was on the approach lead to a clearance that should not have been delivered.Solution: More vigilance with aircraft spacing; especially landing and departing traffic from the same runway."
Second reporter narrative
ATC instructed us to taxi H hold short RW23. Then they cleared us to lineup runway 23". I started the aircraft rolling while the FO (First Officer) started the [safety scan] portion of the before takeoff checklist. The FO quickly informed me there was an aircraft on short final so I stopped quickly; still short of the 23 hold line. I queried Tower if they did actually clear us onto the runway; and they confirmed yes. Then they further instructed us to remain short of runway 23; which I did. Once traffic was clear; we were recleared to lineup runway 23.Cause: I believe YYZ doesn't land runway 23 often; so maybe they weren't expecting the traffic on short final.Solution: Ensure no traffic on short final."
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.