Air carrier flight crew reported they had to stop taxiing suddenly to avoid another air carrier approaching the same intersection.
Synopsis
Air carrier flight crew reported they had to stop taxiing suddenly to avoid another air carrier approaching the same intersection.
Narrative
We were taxiing out at DEN on a windy day. At one point nearly all flights were departing 25 for the winds; but they were starting to die down as we pushed. We had planned for 25 but were assigned 34L. We worked on the runway change while taxiing; but we were also waiting on final weights due to 'an illegal load limit.' We were given a taxi via WB and D; and we informed tower that we were waiting on our numbers while on D. We were told to hold short of D2; which we did while waiting for the final weights. The final weights popped up right as tower told us to taxi a box pattern around (Runway 34L; D3; D hold short D2) to let traffic behind us pass. I informed tower we had our weights and would be good to go in a minute; and he acknowledged that and verified he still wanted us to taxi around. Entering the weights also required manually entering the V speeds since we were using Max T/O with reduced V speeds due to the gusty crosswind; and also it took a second to verify the new runway was loaded correctly with no discontinuities since it had been loaded while taxiing. As a result we were halfway through the before takeoff checklist as we taxied back onto D and Tower cleared us to line up and wait 34L. I said we need just 30 seconds (as we were finishing the checklist at that time) and Tower said in an annoyed tone there's people behind you". I'll admit the comment took me aback; so I just said 'just a few more seconds' and he responded with 'yeah right.' We were still taxiing toward the runway slowly so that we'd have the checklist completed before we got to the hold short line; and so we were just about to enter the WA/D intersection when Tower cleared Aircraft Y on WA to line up and wait. We slammed on the brakes; but our nose was in the intersection. He then told us to pass behind Aircraft Y; but at that point it wouldn't have been safe for Aircraft Y to taxi past. Tower then said 'Aircraft X; did you just cut Aircraft Y off without clearance?' and I responded 'It was our understanding that we had clearance to the runway.' Tower then said that there was more room on Aircraft Y EDCT (Estimated Departure Clearance Time) anyway and cleared us for takeoff.It is possible that I misheard or simply missed a call; but it was my understanding that we were not holding short of WA. I acknowledge that I certainly might have missed a call at that point as we were entering weights and V-speeds; verifying everything was in the box correctly for the gusty T/O and runway change; running the checklist; and dealing with Tower's comments over the radio all adding to the task saturation."
Second reporter narrative
Taxiing out 34L at DEN advised ground we were negative weights. Tower cleared us D short of D2. About the time weights came he gave us D WA 34L D3 & hold short of D2 (just a box around). We told him weights were coming and he replied he still needed us follow that clearance. After we boxed around ground told us to line up & wait 34L. Due to some issues being resolved in our FMC; we were late getting our checklists complete & were going to need another minute. The tower's response to us was 'yeah sure.' As we approached WA he cleared a Aircraft Y's flight onto 34L. I immediately stopped but the nose of the airplane was on WA. Tower said our clearance was to hold short of D2. Aircraft Y responded he could still get by but tower told him he needed spacing (or something like that) for him anyway. Tower cleared us for takeoff & we took the runway & departed.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.