Large Transport
Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 1.6
Distraction; Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types; Conflict Ground Conflict; Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Ground Incursion Runway
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Rejected Takeoff
Staffing; Airport; Environment - Non Weather Related
We were landing and departing 28s. It was busy. I told Aircraft Y to turn off of Runway 28 onto non active Runway 19L and hold short of F contact Ground. He turned off of the active runway. I cleared Aircraft X for takeoff. As I cleared Aircraft X; Aircraft Z was taxing to runway 28L. Aircraft Z was crossing the ones and blocked my view of Aircraft Y. Aircraft Z had just crossed 19R and was on F. Aircraft X said he was aborting takeoff; due to aircraft on the runway. [Aircraft X] taxied back to Runway 28L. Everything looked good from my angle. Even at this time I don't know if I would have caught it. View blocked by taxing aircraft. Plenty of time for Aircraft Y to exit. Nothing blocking him from moving forward. I think Aircraft Y was concerned about the size of Aircraft Z and held. Never understand why pilots will not fully clear an active runway.I scanned the runway. [I need to] look more closely at the ASDE. I asked my local assist and he said it was really hard to tell. I think it was just one of those weird situations where everyone was at the wrong place at the wrong time. In the future I will advise the aircraft to fully exit the runway. Move up as far as they can to hold short of F. Definitely something that I will not let happen again. With summer and constant 28 I am glad I was able to experience this now. I will be more aware of this pitfall in the future.
Controller working Local position describes incident where he could not see slow moving aircraft exiting runway position because view was blocked by another aircraft; while departing aircraft rejects take-off.