Commercial Fixed Wing
Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 240; Flight Crew Type 2800
Communication Breakdown
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation - Speed All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Returned To Clearance
Environment - Non Weather Related; Human Factors; Procedure
During the ZZZZZ X Arrival; a late clearance was issued and believed to have been to 'Expect ZZZZZ1 at 250 knots.' That 'Expect' clearance was read back by the Pilot Flying (First Officer) due to the fact that the Pilot Monitoring (Captain) was speaking to the flight attendants on the interphone. After passing ZZZZZ1; ATC asked to verify that we were at 250 knots; the First Officer/PM responded that we were awaiting the expect 250 knots clearance. The ATC Controller made reference to the fact that he was wearing a face mask and the clearance may have been miss-understood. The Captain returned from speaking with the flight attendants and the First Officer briefed him on the miss-understanding of the 'expect 250 knot' clearance. The aircraft was slowed to 250 knots and the flight continued on the ZZZZZ X Arrival uneventfully.Communication with ATC can be difficult enough. Controllers wearing face masks doesn't seem like a good idea.
We were descending on the ZZZZZ X. I notified my First Officer that I would be off for a moment; so as to notify the flight attendants to take their seats due to the turbulence. When I notified my First Officer I was back; he informed me that ATC had told us to expect ZZZZZ1 intersection at 250 knots. Shortly after passing ZZZZZ1; ATC queried our speed. We notified ATC that we were at 280 knots but were never assigned the 250 knots at ZZZZZ1 that he told us to expect. ATC commented that he was wearing a face mask and that it was probably hard for us to understand him. We slowed to 250 knots and the remainder of flight was uneventful.
Air carrier flight crew reported missing a speed restriction clearance possibly due to the Controller wearing a face mask.