Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 206; Flight Crew Type 8500
Communication Breakdown
ATC Issue All Types; Conflict Ground Conflict; Less Severe
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification
Airport; Procedure; Human Factors
As we taxied out to our assigned spot the First Officer contacted DEN Ground Control who cleared us to taxi to Runway 17R via Mike. We proceeded out the ramp and made a right turn southbound onto Taxiway Mike. During the turn onto Mike the Ground Controller told us to monitor Tower. As the First Officer was making the switch to Tower; I heard the Ground Controller say our Company name and the first number of our call sign. I asked the First Officer to return to the Ground and query the Controller. At this time; we were already southbound on Taxiway Mike. I noticed an aircraft approaching opposite direction on the same taxiway we were on (Mike). I slowed the aircraft; brought it to a stop; and set the parking brake. The First Officer had; by then; made contact with the Ground Controller who said she had issued the wrong taxi instructions and had tried to correct herself after telling us to monitor the Tower frequency. We had heard the very beginning of this transmission as referenced above. The result was two aircraft facing each other on Taxiway Mike with no exit options. The Controller asked if either of us could make a 180 on the taxiway. I declined as there was not adequate room to do so. The other aircraft declined as well. We ended up coordinating with Ground; Airport Operations; and Company for a tug to come out a push us back north of CN so the other aircraft could taxi past and we could proceed. All procedures and checklists were followed per Company standard and the push operation completed. The flight proceeded without further incident. It should be noted that the other carrier involved in the incursion placed blame for the situation on us. This is incorrect and the pilots of the other aircraft did not have all the facts. My First Officer attempted to correct their assertion but was unsuccessful.
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An error by the Ground Controller; followed up by a correction transmitted after the outbound B737NG flight crew had switched to Tower frequency as cleared; resulted in a nose to nose condition with an inbound B757 with no available intersection on which to exit. A tug was dispatched to push the reporters' aircraft beyond their outbound crossing taxiway to allow the inbound to proceed.