Similar callsigns and heavy traffic result in the wrong aircraft taxiing into position.
Synopsis
Similar callsigns and heavy traffic result in the wrong aircraft taxiing into position.
Narrative
Flight was number one holding short of runway. There was an expectation of the call to 'position and hold.' I; as the First Officer; heard what I thought was our flight position and hold. I responded to that instruction with; 'Position and hold Runway XXC Air Carrier ABC.' The Captain then pushed up power and proceeded on to Runway XXC. The Tower then cleared another Company flight number to takeoff Runway XXC. I then told the Tower that our flight understood we were cleared in to position and hold. Then Captain then began a 180 degree turn back off the runway. Then there seemed to be some confusion on the part of the Tower as to who was on the runway/cleared for takeoff and who was clearing. As we exited the runway the previous mentioned Company flight took the runway and was cleared for takeoff. The Tower then said that he may have used the wrong callsign when issuing the position and hold clearance and not to worry about the incursion. Our flight was then cleared to position and hold and we departed without further incident. The Captain and I talked about the event later in the flight and neither of us could confirm with 100% assurance the we in fact heard the proper callsign for position and hold but we both agreed that we thought that is what we heard. We then agreed that we were both 100% certain that we did hear my response to the clearance to position and hold with the proper callsign.
Second reporter narrative
Holding short of the hold bars; Tower was very busy and he cleared us into position. The First Officer acknowledged with our callsign and after crossing the bars; he asked who we were and we told him. He said it was the wrong flight and I made a U turn and taxied back without crossing onto any part of the runway. He apologized and said it was his fault; not to worry about it and that he used the wrong callsign. We then departed with no more problems.We did everything right this time. I think sometimes ATC gets bogged down by trying to go too fast and these things can happen.
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Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.