Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Human-Machine Interface; Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter CFTT / CFIT
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Aircraft; Human Factors; Procedure
After being vectored off the SILCN 4 arrival into San Jose; we were given direct to the fix GGUGL and instructed to descend via the SILCN 4 for Runway 12R. The next Controller cleared us to descend to 5;100 feet and shortly after reaching that altitude; we responded to a EGPWS warning 'Terrain Terrain Pull Up' The first officer told ATC that we were responding to a terrain warning and after we'd climbed about 1;500 feet; we were out of the clouds and could see we were above any possible obstacles. Out of an abundance of caution and because it took awhile to put the aircraft back into a more normal posture; we climbed to 10;000 feet before getting on vectors for the approach. After landing; I talked about the event with the TRACON supervisor.Task saturation was definitely a factor in why this happened. Halfway into our arrival the San Jose Airport switched from landing west to east and the controllers were consequently scrambling. The First Officer and I were unusually busy since we had to keep setting up for different approaches. First we were told to expect the RNAV (GPS) to Runway 30L; then the RNAV (GPS) to Runway 12R; then the ILS to 12R. All these changes took place within about 10 minutes. Perhaps because the controllers were so busy with turning the airport around and the FO and I [were] so busy with setting things up; no one caught the unsafe altitude.If our aircraft had the updated EGPWS system we would have seen the high terrain coming on our nav displays and avoided the entire situation.
Air carrier Captain reported a CFTT event during approach to SJC airport. The crew immediately climbed to avoid the terrain and ATC re-vectored them for landing.