B767-300 and 300 ER
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Other / Unknown
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Incursion Runway
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Human Factors
We landed on 35R; taxied clear and were given instructions to taxi on Charlie to Delta Mike and hold short of 35L. While holding short I attempted to contact MXP operations to confirm our gate assignment. After numerous unsuccessful attempts I rejoined the crew as we were taxing across 35L. It was at that time that MXP Tower questioned our actions. From what I understand from discussions with PF and PM; Tower asked our flight if we had traffic on final in sight. We acknowledged but misunderstood very confusing terminology and taxied across 35L. Since I was not on frequency I can not state what exactly was communicated by Tower.The lesson for me is to remain on frequency along with both the PM and PF until clear of all runways. Not having a gate assignment and the inability to communicate with Ops kept me off frequency longer than I should have been. I made a judgment call to leave the Tower frequency and attempt contact with ops since we were stopped and holding short of an active runway.
We had landed on Runway 35R; exiting onto high-speed taxiway Delta. Cleared via C and DM; to hold short 35L. Approaching 35L clearance limit; Tower asked if we had traffic in sight on final. This seemed odd; as we'd been holding short; but I confirmed with Captain that we had the traffic in sight and responded in the affirmative to the Tower. The next clearance I heard was to cross Runway 35L; keeping the traffic on final in sight and contact ground on the other side; which is what I read back. With no additional input from the Tower; we proceeded to cross 35L at DM/DB and as we were clearing the runway; the Tower told us we had been told to cross the runway; after the traffic on final had landed and passed by and that the Captain should contact the Tower via telephone upon gate arrival. I contacted Ground Control and we taxied in with no further issues.I will continue to review foreign ATC and airport specific for irregular and special procedures utilized; and whether or not American crews are allowed to participate in such prior to operating into and out of such facilities. I will also actively challenge any and all clearances which are not crystal clear from now on; which has been my policy for quite some time already. I will not allow the aircraft to continue forward nor commence forward motion; to the best of my ability if there is even the most remote possibility of a misunderstanding in communication with ATC / Ground Control. I also am keenly interested in learning the details of why an ATC entity would engage in such (in my humble and considered opinion) bizarre clearance language.
B767 flight crew reports misunderstanding a taxi clearance to cross the active runway after the traffic on final as a clearance to cross now at LIMC.