B787 flight crew reported ground crew initiated pushback cutting off another air carrier that was supposed to taxi behind the pushback aircraft before movement started.
Synopsis
B787 flight crew reported ground crew initiated pushback cutting off another air carrier that was supposed to taxi behind the pushback aircraft before movement started.
Narrative
I was the flying FO on this flight. After ground personnel reported ready to Capt and we released brakes; I called ground for pushback. This is the script I remember.Ground- 'Aircraft X after Aircraft Y passes from left to right; cleared to push'Myself- 'After Aircraft Y passes from left to right cleared to push Aircraft X'Myself- I repeated that exact clearance to CaptCapt to tug- 'Ok after Aircraft Y passes from left to right cleared to push'Tug- 'OK starting push'They then began to push immediately which I found strange. They didn't repeat back exactly what Capt said and there was no way Aircraft Y would had been past us that quick or ramp wouldn't had said anything in first place. We also couldn't see behind us with any reflections or in the direction Aircraft Y was coming from due to gate. So I immediately said to Capt.Myself- 'Sir can you confirm Aircraft Y passed us'Capt told tug- 'Did Aircraft Y already pass behind?'They immediately stopped the push. At the same timeGround- 'Aircraft X hold position cancel push clearance'We had moved back maybe 20' from push. Aircraft Y couldn't get behind us on taxiway 1 so ground coordinated with them to sidestep to [taxiway] 2 to get around us. At the same time and without any coordination with us the tug began to pull us back forward fully into gate. Aircraft Y was cleared to pass us on taxiway 1 when ground saw us move back forward. Ground then cleared us to push again. I apologized to ground and think I even told them we told the tug about Aircraft Y and ground said no problem.Things that could have prevented this from happening is just more patience from tug. Ground personnel; especially overseas; is always in a hurry to get the door closed; brake released; and aircraft out of gate for their 'numbers' or to get to next job it seems. I understand being efficient/on time; but sometimes it can become a rush from their end and that's where mistakes happen. When Capt told tug gentleman clearance; the tug was pushing pretty much as he was responding to us and it was a fast push from the start. We luckily queried in a few seconds to tug about Aircraft Y. So I would suggest a solution of reminding people to slow down and exercise clear communications because he didn't read back the exact clearance (which also made me want to query him asap). But before we even could; we were already back 20'. I thought we did very well with querying the situation so quickly. Taking a second before his read back and starting to move us would have prevented the ordeal. Also if he did hear clearance correctly; I don't think he could see that far in the direction Aircraft Y was coming from due to ground equipment in the way or other gate aircraft. I would suggest more of at least ground carts/trucks being cleared if possible or for them to have us query if Aircraft Y did pass already with ground. In addition; I don't believe he should had moved us back into the gate without clearance from us and ground. Before we could ask ground who was coordinating with Aircraft Y they were already clearing us to pushback again. Before any movement from tug;a coordination with flight deck should be received.Air carrier flight crew reported ground crew initiated pushback cutting off another air carrier that was supposed to taxi behind the pushback aircraft before movement started.
Second reporter narrative
ZZZZ ground gave us a conditional clearance to push back after Aircraft Y taxied behind us. The FO then repeated the instructions to the CA verbatim. The CA informed the ramp crew that we were cleared to push after Aircraft Y taxied behind. I was looking at the reflection in the jet bridge for the traffic we were instructed to give way to and did not see another aircraft before the ramp crew started the push us back. The FO immediately spoke up and asked the CA to query the ramp crew if Aircraft Y had cleared. As the CA was querying the ramp crew about Aircraft Y; ZZZZ ground called us to cancel our push clearance and hold position and informed us that Aircraft Y had not cleared behind. ZZZZ Ground then called the Aircraft Y flight and asked if they had room to taxi around. The ramp crew stopped the push; but then started pulling our aircraft back toward the gate without coordinating with the CA. Aircraft Y then informed ZZZZ Ground that they had room to safely taxi behind. Once Aircraft Y was clear; ZZZZ Ground gave us clearance to continue push.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.