Air carrier flight crew reported they had to stop abruptly during taxi to avoid an aircraft that crossed in front of them due to a miscommunication between ground and ramp control.
Synopsis
Air carrier flight crew reported they had to stop abruptly during taxi to avoid an aircraft that crossed in front of them due to a miscommunication between ground and ramp control.
Narrative
After pushback from the gate in ZZZ we requested to taxi out from the ramp. The female controller said to taxi to spot A and contact ground for further taxi. On the short taxi to spot A I could see two other aircraft waiting on taxiway 1 near spot B waiting to come into the ramp to park. This is not the usual of course because usually aircraft leaving the ramp taxi out via [taxiway] 1 and aircraft entering the ramp via taxiway 2. This was changed however due to most likely a pushback by an aircraft onto part of taxiway 2 earlier. We called ground to taxi as we approached spot A. Immediately ground cleared us to taxi via 2 and other taxiways to XXL. I looked briefly at the taxi route on the airport diagram and then looked up toward our direction of travel. Within an instant out of my peripheral vision I see Aircraft Y coming from my 2o clock position taxiing toward spot C into the ramp to park. We were heading outbound via taxiway 2 so close to spot D. So there were some crossing operations by coming and going aircraft into the ramp. I had to quickly stop the aircraft to avoid getting any closer to the other aircraft. We eventually allowed the inbound aircraft to pass by. Immediately we knew something was wrong with either the communication or understanding from the two aircraft and ATC/ramp. Since we were on ground control with a taxi clearance I asked the FO to contact ramp again on comm 2 and ask what just happened? When my FO switched to ramp I listened and heard the female ramp controller say to Aircraft Y inbound; 'I'm sorry I assumed the outbound aircraft would see you and give way'. My FO said to ramp that we received clearance from ground already to taxi out via 2. In this situation two different controllers (ground to us ) and (ramp to inbound A/C) said two different things at the same time and each aircraft only heard their instructions not the ones for the opposing aircraft.
Second reporter narrative
Morning of Day 0 on our first flight of the day from ZZZ-ZZZ1. Everything up to the push-back was normal. After the push we called Ramp on COM 2; tuned to XXX.XX; and advised them we were 'ready to taxi' and they instructed us to 'give way to one outbound aircraft and then taxi to spot A and contact Ground'. I read back the clearance and we gave way to an outbound aircraft and taxied to spot A. At this time I activated COM 1 which was tuned to ZZZ Ground XXX.XY. We were still moving and approaching spot A. I was monitoring both Ground on COM 1 and Ramp on COM 2. When I was preparing to make my call to ground there was a lot of chatter on COM 2 with ramp so I switched off of COM 2 as we were already given permission to switch frequencies. I then made my initial call to Ground 'Aircraft X spot A ready to taxi'. Ground gave us taxi clearance: 'Aircraft X taxi to runway XXL via taxiway 2; 3; 4; cross runway XYL and hold short runway XYR'. I read back the taxi instructions as my captain made the left turn from spot A to join taxiway 2. I was looking at my airport diagram to verify the taxi route when my captain slammed on the brakes and I looked forward to see taxiing from the end of taxiway 1 across the ramp to the right line which crossed our intended taxi route.The captain of Aircraft Y never stopped but did look out of their window at us; I'm assuming to ensure wingtip clearance; as they continued their taxi. My captain then asked me to go back to Ramp and figure out what happened there. At this time I reactivated my COM 2 and heard the ramp controller speaking with Aircraft Y. I heard the ramp controller say 'I'm sorry I don't know what happened; I assumed that they saw you and that they would stop' one of the pilots of Aircraft Y said something but I didn't hear it. I then said 'Ramp Aircraft X we just got clearance from Ground to taxi to taxiway 2 from spot A; there must have been some miscommunication here.' the Ramp controller responded 'Yeah; you think?'There were a few transmissions between me and Aircraft Y on Ramp frequency where we were both emphasizing our perspectives but I switched off COM 2 when we were about to turn onto taxiway 3.My captain and I discussed the event and we were trying to piece together what went wrong and decided to file a report as both a proactive measure but also to bring awareness to that area of the ramp.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.