Air carrier flight crew reported during taxi to the runway; an aircraft taxied in front of them requiring the Captain to apply brakes abruptly to avoid a collision.
Synopsis
Air carrier flight crew reported during taxi to the runway; an aircraft taxied in front of them requiring the Captain to apply brakes abruptly to avoid a collision.
Narrative
Our taxi clearance from ZZZ Ground was to taxi via [taxiway] 1; 2 and hold short of [taxiway] 3. While on [taxiway] 2; Ground told us to monitor ZZZ Tower; which we did. While we were on [taxiway] 2 holding short of [taxiway] 3; Tower called and told us to line up and wait on RWY XXC. She also stated on the same radio call that traffic on [taxiway] 3 will give way to you. I do not recall her giving a position or location of the traffic; just traffic on [taxiway] 3. She might have; but I do not remember. So the Captain released the brakes and as we started taxiing; we both cleared to the right (to the north); and we both saw an aircraft taxiing at a fairly good rate of speed to our right on taxiway 3. The Captain abruptly applied the brakes and we stopped. It appeared that the taxiing aircraft made no attempt to slow down or stop. They continued south on [taxiway] 3 and departed on RWY XXL. We became aware of the callsign of that aircraft; when Tower switched them to Departure. Granted the 767 does taxi faster than 777; it just seemed that he was going pretty fast. It seemed that he may not have even seen us even though we did have the taxi light on as we started to move. I am pretty sure the 767 wingtip would have clipped the nose of our aircraft if the Captain had not abruptly applied the brakes. While this was going on; I am pretty sure the Tower gave us a call. I do not remember what she said; but I know I replied 'I thought they were supposed to wait for us'. I don't know if she replied to my radio call or not. We; as a crew; were all kind of startled and we wanted clarification; so I confirmed that we; were cleared to line up and wait on RWY XXC and that was confirmed by Tower. I do know that I mistakenly read back initially RWY XY; but that was corrected and did not seem to have any implications on this event.Cause: Poor or lack of communication. We were on Tower frequency and we can only assume that the 767; was still on Ground frequency. I do not recall hearing their callsign until Tower switched them to Departure after they took off.Suggestions: I do not know. We have no idea what Aircraft Y was given for taxi clearance.
Second reporter narrative
On [taxiway] 2 holding short of [taxiway] 3 we were told to line up and wait from tower on XXC. 2 taxi way is almost a 45 degree angle to [taxiway] 3. As we started to move we saw a 767; coming down [taxiway] 3 with a high rate of speed. We both had our taxi lights on. I stopped. They passed and we requested another verification for line up and wait. They were on ground frequency and we were on tower. We were never told to give way to an airplane nor saw one before starting to move. Stopped airplane after 4 knots. Cause: ATC not telling us to give way; or the other aircraft not following directions. We will never know.
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Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.