Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Communication Breakdown
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Inflight Event / Encounter CFTT / CFIT
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Returned To Clearance
Human Factors; Procedure
On Downwind for runway 35C flying the BRDJE arrival passing approx 4;000 ft; ATC cleared us to 3;000ft and asked us to expedite the descent. Upon reaching approx 3;150 and on base leg; ATC advised us to maintain 3;500ft stating that this was the Minimum Vectoring Altitude (MVA). We confirmed that we had been cleared to 3;000 ft and the controller acknowledged that clearance had been issued by mistake. We climbed to 3;500 and made the visual approach and landed without incident. All crew were at stations.
On downwind for ILS 35C/visual approach; we were complying with a 'expedite descent to 3000' clearance issued by [ATC]. At approximately 3150 feet; controller issued 'climb to 3500 feet for MVA' (this occurred as we were midway through base turn). This clearance put us back at the base of the clouds which thinned as we headed north 'cleared to intercept the localizer'. Shortly thereafter; we called 'visual' and landed without incident. Tower issued an altitude (3000 feet) clearance below his MVA in error. He corrected his clearance to 3500 feet. We maintained compliance with both. Will continue to comply with ATC approach clearances in safe conditions.
B777 flight crew reported descending to altitude assigned by ATC; which was an error and below the Minimum Vectoring Altitude. ATC Caught the error and issued crew a higher altitude.