Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 120; Flight Crew Total 4400; Flight Crew Type 120
Situational Awareness; Communication Breakdown
ATC Issue All Types; Conflict Ground Conflict; Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Human Factors; Procedure
As we taxied to the active runway that we requested from Ground Control. An intersection departure was approved. He told us to contact Tower upon reaching the hold short line at the intersection. We contacted Tower and informed him we are ready for departure. He gave us instructions to line up and wait. As we began to enter the runway I noted that another large Airbus or Boeing was also lining up at the beginning of the runway. It is not uncommon that they line two planes up on the same runway at the same time. Usually when one is on a takeoff roll and the second plane in sequence is asked to line up after the takeoff roll begins of the plane on the runway. Before we were fully lined up I gave another look at the aircraft at the beginning of the runway and noted it had started its takeoff roll as we were given take off clearance by the Tower and began our takeoff roll. I advised the pilot flying to hurry I think that plane is taking off.At this point the aircraft at the beginning of the runway had aborted its take off and advised Tower he aborted due to another aircraft on the runway. The Tower seemed very confused at this point as to who was taking off and what was going on. We were already airborne when the Tower again said to us we are cleared for takeoff. I responded we have already taken off. I told him you already gave us takeoff clearance. We continued out the on the SID and changed frequencies to Departure Control.
[Report narrative contained no additional information.]
International Tower issued duplicate takeoff clearances to two aircraft on the same runway with one at the beginning of the runway and the other on an intersection departure.