B737-700
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 241
Communication Breakdown
ATC Issue All Types; Ground Event / Encounter Vehicle; Ground Incursion Runway
General None Reported / Taken
Human Factors; Procedure
After the 100 FT call by the aircraft; the First Officer (pilot not flying) said; 'What is that; a truck?' He started talking about a possible go-around. I changed my focus further down the runway and saw an emergency vehicle clearing about midfield on the north side and didn't notice any other vehicle following across the runway. I made a decision to continue to land; which went uneventfully and; while clearing; the First Officer queried the Tower about the truck. We had heard nothing from Tower at all. The Tower Controller said there had been a communication error with the truck. We heard the Tower Controller ask the truck to call them. We proceeded to call our ATC Specialist to get him in the loop.
I was pilot not flying. The approach was uneventful until approaching 100 FT. I looked inside to make the 100 FT call and realized the aircraft had the voice callouts. I looked up [after that] and saw an emergency vehicle rapidly crossing the runway at midfield. I said; 'What the heck?' I started to tell the pilot flying to go around as we approached 50 FT; but the vehicle was going so fast (30 to 40 MPH) that; by the time the pilot flying looked up; the runway was clear. The pilot flying landed the aircraft uneventfully and we queried the Tower Controller to see if he had noticed the incursion. He said it was a communication error and told the truck to contact the Tower and sent us to Ground. We taxied to the gate without incident and called the Company ATC representative.
B737 flight crew reports an emergency vehicle crossing their runway as they are about to touch down. The approach is continued to landing as the vehicle is moving quickly. The Tower Controller sited a communication error as the cause of the incident.