A Tower Ground Controller reported the Local Controller cleared an aircraft for takeoff while another aircraft was taxiing across the runway.

ACN 2084286 2024-02 A321 Air Traffic Controller Reports

TaxiPart 121Takeoff / LaunchPart 135

What is ASRS?

The Aviation Safety Reporting System is NASA's voluntary, confidential, non- punitive incident-reporting system, established 1976. Pilots, controllers, dispatchers, and maintenance technicians file reports describing safety- relevant events. NASA de-identifies every report before adding it to the public database. Reports are not investigated by NASA, the FAA, or the NTSB — they represent the reporter's perspective.

Pilot narrative

Verbatim from the de-identified NASA record. First-person account by the reporter. NASA strips identifying details (names, company, specific time); anonymization placeholders are ZZZ, X, Y.

I was working GC and coordinated to cross runway XX at [taxiway] 1. LC (training in progress) approved the runway crossing. I instructed Maintenance to cross RWY XX at 1 and turn right on TWY 2 for their engine runs. While I was reading a clearance I heard Local Control clear an aircraft for takeoff but I wasn't sure which runway. I then stopped reading my clearance and started scanning. I then told LC that I was still crossing runway XX and the trainer tried to cancel the takeoff clearance, but they said to "cancel their landing clearance." Then the OJTI keyed up and told Company to cancel their takeoff clearance, but I think they used the incorrect call sign. There was also a Company aircraft on final. Then the OJTI issued the cancel takeoff clearance with the correct call sign, and the aircraft turned off the runway. I'm not sure what recommendations to make other that we must all remain vigilant and continue to scan, use team work, and coordinate runway crossings accurately to prevent runway incursions.

NASA classification — Anomalies

ATC Issue
Conflict
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural

NASA classification — Assessments

Contributing Factors / Situations: Environment - Non Weather Related · Human Factors · Procedure
Primary Problem: Procedure

ASRS reports are voluntarily submitted, de-identified by NASA, and represent the reporter's perspective. The presence of reports on a topic cannot be used to infer prevalence in the National Airspace System. The authoritative source is the NASA ASRS Database Online at asrs.arc.nasa.gov ↗.