Widebody Transport
Communication Breakdown; Confusion; Situational Awareness; Workload; Distraction
Conflict Ground Conflict; Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Became Reoriented; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Airport; Human Factors; Procedure
Turning right onto Taxiway J from Ramp taxiway C; First Officer One is heads down retrieving now ATIS as instructed by Ground. First Officer Two yells to stop; just in time as aircraft is being pushed back and projects over Taxiway J; especially by its wing. Two Driver seems never to have seen us; Marshaller in front of the gate aircraft has back to us and never alters course (wide turn) of his plane. Our Captain stops abruptly. We notify Ground who queries Ramp; who claims there was never an issue. We state there was a VERY BIG issue (planes would have definitely hit and done major damage). Ground says they'll notify Supervisor.
A heavy jet Captain taxiing on IAD Taxiway J was alerted by the off duty First Officer to stop because of an impending collision with an aircraft pushing back.