Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types; Conflict Ground Conflict; Critical
Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Airport; Human Factors; Procedure
When we taxied out at MSP we were told to taxi via P; M; hold short of Runway 12L. I taxied toward Papa at a slight angle. As I was about to turn onto P; I had to get on the brakes fairly aggressively. There was another CRJ 200 taxiing fast down P in the other direction with no lights on other than NAVs and a beacon. I only saw one NAV light at first as most of the aircraft was blocked by my window post. I immediately made a hard left inside of the opposing aircraft onto taxiway Q. Ground was very busy and seemed not to notice the two opposing aircraft stopped wingtip to wingtip. We were only able to clarify our taxi instructions with him. He issued the same instructions as before and we went on our way. I'm sure the other aircraft was most likely doing as they were told; but a fast taxi without headlights was beyond dangerous and stupid.
A CRJ-200 Captain described a close encounter with an opposite direction taxiing aircraft on the ground at MSP.