Large Transport; Low Wing; 2 Turbojet Eng
Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 1.5
ATC Issue All Types; Conflict Ground Conflict; Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Ground Incursion Runway
Air Traffic Control Separated Traffic
Procedure; Airport; Airspace Structure; Human Factors
Aircraft X was told to exit at taxiway as traffic would depart as soon as he cleared. I saw aircraft turn at the taxiway and I cleared Aircraft Y for immediate takeoff. Aircraft X was well clear of the runway on the ASDE-X. Ground advised Aircraft X reported he wasn't clear of the Runway; departure was already airborne. Ground advised Aircraft X to give way to taxiing aircraft left to right. It appeared to me that Aircraft X never stopped forward movement away from the runway. He was moving very slowly away from the runway; but appeared he never stopped. Aircraft Y was told to contact departure. Ground shouldn't impede aircraft exiting the runway.
Aircraft X landed and was told to exit quickly because traffic would depart. Aircraft Y was put into position and hold at an intersection and advised traffic was on a 7 mile final. As Aircraft X was exiting the runway; I scanned the runway and checked the spacing on final with arriving aircraft. The local 2 controller scanned the runway and cleared Aircraft Y for immediate takeoff because traffic was approaching 2 mile final. At that time; ground control advised that Aircraft X said he was not clear of the runway. I looked up to rescan the area and it appeared Aircraft X was moving forward slowly and clear of the runway. The Airport Movement Area Safety System did not alarm and it appeared that Aircraft X was clear of the runway safety area but I could not observe if he was past the hold lines.
Tower Controller advised a landing aircraft to exit the runway 'quickly' so as to expedite departing traffic. The landing aircraft than was switched to Ground Control. Ground Control delayed the arrival's runway exit for their taxiing aircraft. The Airport Movement Area Safety System did not alert. The controllers were not sure if the arriving aircraft was completely clear of the runway prior to the departure taking off.