B737-800
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Confusion; Situational Awareness; Communication Breakdown
ATC Issue All Types; Conflict Ground Conflict; Less Severe
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Executed Go Around / Missed Approach
Human Factors; Procedure
While still taxiing north on Bravo; we were cleared for takeoff. We checked the traffic on final and noticed an aircraft approaching. At that point; we couldn't tell if it was on final for [the left] or [center runway]. We completed the Takeoff Checklist and as we rounded to corner toward the runway; it began to look like the aircraft was on final for our runway. The First Officer vocalized his prospective that the aircraft on final appeared to be for our runway. Just after we crossed the hold short line; the First Officer said; 'Stop!' I stopped the aircraft immediately. About the same time; the aircraft on final asked the Tower if he was still cleared to land on [Runway] XXL or if the Tower wanted him to go around. The Tower said; 'Oh s**t; go around!' The aircraft went around and we waited for another takeoff clearance. Nothing further was said by the Tower (probably trying to recover from the error.) We were subsequently cleared for takeoff; took the runway and departed normally. ATC error clearing an aircraft for takeoff [with an aircraft] landing on the same runway.
ATC cleared a B737-800 for takeoff; but that flight crew thought an aircraft on approach was lined up on their runway. As they delayed ATC commanded the other aircraft to go around as that aircraft's crew questioned their landing clearance.