MD-11
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Multiengine
Communication Breakdown; Confusion; Training / Qualification; Situational Awareness
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Conflict Ground Conflict; Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Incursion Taxiway
Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification
Airport; Environment - Non Weather Related; Human Factors
As Reserve First Officer (RFO) in the observer's seat while the Check Airman and First Officer IOE student had completed check-list and called for beacon and push-back I became distracted with the other RFO concerning his communication head-set. We pushed back and were told by Ramp Tower that we did not have push back clearance. I do remember hearing push-back clearance to another aircraft before us. Clearly after hearing about our lack of clearance; they had wanted the other aircraft to sequence out before us. I had looked to my right to see another aircraft pushing back a few gates down to our right. With our push-back we had blocked his taxi-out route. While we pushed back all the area around us was clear. I believe the crew misheard the ATC communication and believed they had push-back clearance. Not sure if language barrier could have contributed. Do not allow ones attention to be diverted at critical junctures. As the RFO in the observer's seat I allowed the other RFO in the seat behind the Captain to engage me with an issue with his head-set and missed the push-back request call ATC response.
MD11 Relief Officer reported the crew pushed back without a clearance.