Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness; Confusion
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Flight Crew Rejected Takeoff
Human Factors; Procedure
A B737-800 LUAW Runway 1R waiting for traffic to land Runway 28 L/R. A B777 exiting the South ramp on Mike for taxi to Runway 28 L/R for departure. I advised the B777 to cross Runway 1L; hold short Runway 1R; departing traffic; read back was correct. Next; I cleared the B737-800 for takeoff. At this time; the B777 had not yet crossed the Runway 1L to hold short and the B737-800 was rolling through Mike; so I advised the B777 to cross Runway 1R; hold short Runway 28L; read back was correct. A very short time later; the B737-800 said they were departing Runway 1R; and aborting. I advised them cancel takeoff clearance; turn right Taxiway F1; turn right onto Lima; and advise when ready to go again. They made a displeasing remark about the intelligence of my instruction? I immediately went back to the B777 and advised them to turn left onto Runway 1R; turn right Taxiway F1 to join Foxtrot; and hold short Runway 28L; read back was correct. The B757 was on final Runway 28R; and was not sent around; as I was able to get the read back of exiting instructions in a timely manner. There was no way to predict that the B737-800 would hear this and conclude that an aircraft would be crossing down field; as not a single aircraft was in their field of vision except the arrival that had rolled through before they were cleared for take off. This may have been the issue; however; as normally; an aircraft with the B777's taxi instructions would have been closer to Runway 1R (maybe even holding short); therefore placing them in the field of vision; possibly identifying them as the B777; alleviating any question when the instruction was issued and read back. Additionally; with the fairly recent events; and this being an outbound leg for a red eye flight; it is very likely that the flight crew was on a higher sense of personal well being and self protective mechanisms quickly sought after with a seemingly unusual clearance. This is a taxi clearance that is estimated to be issued thirteen to fifteen times a day in all light conditions.
Tower Controller described an aborted takeoff event on an intersecting runway when assumptions were made by the flight crew that runway crossing traffic would be a factor.