Air Traffic Control Developmental
Communication Breakdown; Confusion; Distraction
ATC Issue All Types; Airspace Violation All Types; Conflict Airborne Conflict; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Ground Excursion Runway
Air Traffic Control Separated Traffic
Airspace Structure; Human Factors; Procedure
At the time there was a tower tour going on and we were distracted by conversations; and explanations from the tour; we had just previously changed runway configurations; and I as a ground controller taxied the aircraft to the previous (wrong) runway and allowed the local controller to depart the aircraft into the incorrect airspace. The individual giving the tour shall instruct the tourist not to talk to any controller on position.
Change from runway 18 to 36. Tower tour in the tower. Aircraft X was taxied by ground control to 18C instead of newly activated 36C. I cleared Aircraft X for departure. Aircraft Y checked in on a left base for RWY 36L. I recognized what happened and turned Aircraft Y west and Aircraft X eastbound to maintain separation. Tower tour guides instruct tourists to not communicate with air traffic controllers working on position.
MEM Tower controllers reported a Tower tour distracted the Ground Controller allowing an aircraft to taxi to the wrong runway and Local departed traffic off that runway. Departure was in conflict with arrival traffic; so the Local Controller vectored the departure and sent the arrival around.