B737 Next Generation Undifferentiated
Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 147; Flight Crew Type 1052.05
Time Pressure; Communication Breakdown
ATC Issue All Types; Conflict Ground Conflict; Critical
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Executed Go Around / Missed Approach; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Human Factors
As an Airbus passed the threshold for landing on Runway 34; we were instructed to line-up and wait Runway 34. [We] responded to Tower 'line up and wait'. I looked to my left to clear and declared 'Final clear'. As I said this; I noticed the lights of an aircraft lining up for final. I then vocalized to [the First Officer] that actually traffic was on an 8 mile final. I then expanded the scale of my ND to see the traffic on final at 1;800 feet - so probably 6 miles was more accurate. We did hear a clearance for [that aircraft] to land; I believe it came just after [the Airbus] landed; but I am not 100% sure when it was made. As we turned to line-up for departure; I observed the Airbus clearing Runway 34 to the right. Expecting a quick take-off clearance; I began to run up the engines. Nothing came from Tower. I asked [the First Officer] to confirm we were only cleared to Line Up and Wait. He agreed that was our clearance. After a few more moments of silence from Tower; I asked [the First Officer] to advise the Tower that we were ready for departure; which he promptly did. Again; we had more silence from the Tower. After a few more moments; I made the call to the Tower that we were ready for takeoff. More silence from the Tower. 2-3 seconds after this I broadcast '[Callsign] aircraft is still on the runway!'. At the same time I did this; I expanded the scale of my ND to see that the [landing] aircraft appeared as an Amber target just behind us at 300 feet and climbing. A few moments after this; Tower came on the frequency and instructed [the landing aircraft] to go around (which they were already doing). My belief is that [the landing aircraft] initiated their own go-around moments before I broadcast our position; but [referencing] the TCAS readout on my ND; they may have gotten as low as 200 feet AGL.
B737NG Captain reported being left in position awaiting takeoff clearance as another aircraft lined up for landing on the same runway was descending before initiating a go-around.