B737-900
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
ATC Issue All Types; Conflict Ground Conflict; Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Procedure; Human Factors
After landing Runway 27; departed runway using Taxiway K. Instructed to hold short 22R/4L on Kilo. During taxi towards the 22R/4L hold point; Tower instructed us to continue across 22L; traffic holding in position. Having not reached the 22R/4L; but just approaching it; we were about to continue our taxi across (as cleared to do so); when we saw an aircraft on departure roll on 22R just prior to their rotation. I slowed the aircraft to avoid crossing the hold short position/Runway 22R until the aircraft on departure roll rotated and departed past our position. I believe; as does my First Officer; that had we not been vigilant and cleared left and right; spotting the departing aircraft; and had we just continued our taxi across 22R with our current taxi momentum (we did slow considerably to avoid incursion) we would have been directly under that departing aircraft; by a very [small] margin. Once clear of possible incident; continued to gate. Contacted Tower from CSA phone in terminal; explained incident; [and was] told they would look into it.
B737-900 Captain reported he was cleared to cross a runway and if he had it would have put his aircraft directly under a departure from that runway.