Narrative:

My leg. Tower cleared us to line up and wait on runway xxl. As we began to taxi onto runway and still perpendicular to runway heading; tower cleared us for takeoff. Spacing seemed tight; but we still had to make the 90 degree turn before we could start takeoff roll. Even so; I listened to first officer's readback of takeoff clearance and no subsequent transmission from tower. So everything seemed totally normal as preceding aircraft was now at normal spacing ahead. So I applied takeoff power and started our takeoff roll. As we accelerated through approximately 100 to 110 knots; I noticed a business jet crossing the runway well ahead of us. I instantly calculated that this aircraft would clear the runway well before we got to his position. I also; at the same time watched to make sure that two other air carrier aircraft waiting to cross runway were holding their position. They were and I continued the takeoff roll. Also at the same time I pointed out to the first officer and our jumpseater of the aircraft crossing in front of us. We made normal takeoff and tower told us to switch to departure as if nothing happened. First officer readback the handoff transmission. Then he informed tower that the business jet had crossed the runway in front of us during our takeoff roll. This was followed by silence on tower frequency as we switched to departure. We continued on to our destination.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Air carrier flight crew and Local Controller reported the First Officer accepted a takeoff clearance that was not for them and they took off while a business jet was crossing downfield. The Local Controller mistakenly said 'cleared for takeoff' with the call sign of an aircraft on final when he meant to say 'cleared to land.'

Narrative: My leg. Tower cleared us to line up and wait on Runway XXL. As we began to taxi onto runway and still perpendicular to runway heading; tower cleared us for takeoff. Spacing seemed tight; but we still had to make the 90 degree turn before we could start takeoff roll. Even so; I listened to FO's readback of takeoff clearance and no subsequent transmission from tower. So everything seemed totally normal as preceding aircraft was now at normal spacing ahead. So I applied takeoff power and started our takeoff roll. As we accelerated through approximately 100 to 110 knots; I noticed a business jet crossing the runway well ahead of us. I instantly calculated that this aircraft would clear the runway well before we got to his position. I also; at the same time watched to make sure that two other air carrier aircraft waiting to cross runway were holding their position. They were and I continued the takeoff roll. Also at the same time I pointed out to the FO and our jumpseater of the aircraft crossing in front of us. We made normal takeoff and tower told us to switch to departure as if nothing happened. FO readback the handoff transmission. Then he informed tower that the business jet had crossed the runway in front of us during our takeoff roll. This was followed by silence on tower frequency as we switched to departure. We continued on to our destination.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.