B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 160
Communication Breakdown
ATC Issue All Types; Conflict Ground Conflict; Critical
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Procedure
Landed ZZZ Runway 28L; cleared onto Taxiway J5 and instructed by Tower to proceed on taxiways Juliet and Quebec and to contact ground on 121.4. Upon checking in with ground and informing them we were parking at [gate]; Ground Control issued instructions to taxi via Quebec; Sierra; Bravo to C3. Unbeknownst to us; Aircraft Y had landed Runway 28R and contacted ground approximately 30-40 seconds prior to us; being given clearance to taxi to [gate] via Charlie; Sierra and Bravo. We were north eastbound on taxiway Sierra approaching taxiway Charlie when I heard the Captain say; 'WHOA;' with concurrent firm but controlled braking to a complete stop. I had to lean forward to get a view past her head towards our 7 to 8 o'clock position in order to see that she had stopped our aircraft within approximately one aircraft width of Aircraft Y; who had also come to an abrupt stop on taxiway Charlie as it approaches taxiway Sierra. I immediately queried ground control about our taxi clearance; to which the controller replied; 'Aircraft X; turn right on Bravo and contact ramp control.' I recognized that he had lost situational awareness on our position; as well as Aircraft Y; and wanted him to re-clarify whether he wanted us to proceed; or Aircraft Y. His response seemed to indicate that he had lost situational awareness; as he responded to us; but in the same transmission; attempted to give Aircraft Y instructions as well. I then requested permission to continue; which he gave us; and then he called Aircraft Y back and apologized; issuing instructions to have them follow us in. While a collision was avoided; this was obviously an error by the Ground Controller who issued separate taxi instructions to both us and Aircraft Y via taxiways Sierra and Bravo without issuing a hold short for either aircraft to give way. In the end; due to the arrangements of the taxiways both aircraft were on as we merged and visibility from the respective cockpits; it was most likely our Captain and the Aircraft Y First Officer who were the only two people who were able to see and avoid a potentially disastrous situation.
B737 First Officer reported that ATC gave the same taxi clearance to two aircraft; resulting in a critical ground conflict.