Commercial Fixed Wing
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Confusion; Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types; Conflict Ground Conflict; Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Human Factors; Procedure; Weather
Taxing from the device pad for departure we came very close to coming in contact with Aircraft Y. Aircraft Y had been given clearance to taxi to the runway while we were still finishing up de-ice and neither the Captain or myself as First Officer gave it much thought. When we finished the de-ice process I called for taxi and we were given clearance to taxi. The Runway Visual Range was being reported at the time of 1;000 ft. so the visibility was obviously a contributing factor in the described events. As we were on Taxiway A approaching an intersection; I began to notice some lights on the right hand side of the airplane. I assumed that I was seeing hangar lights as they did not appear to be moving. Looking back this was due to the fact that ourselves and Aircraft Y had roughly the same ground speed and therefore the lights were staying in the same position on my window.As we got closer the Captain and I both realized at about the same time that what we were seeing was Aircraft Y. Aircraft Y must have seen us about the same time because we both came to a stop. When we stopped on the slick taxiway we were probably no more then 20 or 30 ft. away from Aircraft Y. We began to taxi away and as we did I asked ground to verify that we were in fact cleared to taxi to the runway. They stated that we were. Aircraft Y then asked the same thing and ground replied that they as well were cleared to taxi to the same runway. Due to the 1;000 ft. Runway Visual Range I know that Tower could not see where either of us were. I think that the normal low visual procedures of reporting when passing certain points would have saved this from happening. I think that Ground thought that Aircraft Y was already at the end of the runway when we were cleared for taxi and for some reason Aircraft Y was delayed.
We were departing. ATIS prevailing visibility was 1/4 mile in freezing fog. After start we went to device pad 1 and completed Type I and Type IV deicing. Ground gave us taxi instructions and to hold short the ILS critical area. Taxi was uneventful until reaching an intersection. Aircraft Y had been cleared to taxi to the same runway and we nearly met at the intersection. We both applied brakes. Aircraft Y told Ground they would 'give way to...' us. After starting to taxi we called Ground to confirm our taxi instructions. Aircraft Y did the same. We were both cleared all the way to Runway 12. Aircraft Y was cleared to taxi before us and either taxied slow or delayed their start. Ground could have confirmed their position before clearing us to taxi.
Air Carrier flight crew reported they stopped their taxiing when they observed another aircraft taxiing into the same intersection.