Mdw tower controllers reported miscommunication caused an aircraft to be cleared for takeoff with an...

Attributes
ACN	1404846
Time
Date	201611
Local Time Of Day	1801-2400
Place
Locale Reference	MDW.Tower
State Reference	IL
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Takeoff
Route In Use	None
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Large Transport Low Wing 2 Turbojet Eng
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Taxi
Route In Use	None
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Local
Qualification	Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Person 2
Function	Ground
Qualification	Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Experience	Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 10
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Conflict Ground Conflict Less Severe Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy Deviation - Procedural Clearance Ground Incursion Runway

Narrative:

It was a very busy arrival and departure push; landing the runways 22 left and right and departing runway 13C. This configuration requires an extraordinary amount of coordination between ground and local for most of the arrivals and departures on the ground. Aircraft X was put into position on runway 13C. Ground control was given permission to cross runway 13C. I observed the runway to be clear and I made the rolling call for runway 13C. I heard the 'clear of runway 13C' and cleared aircraft X for takeoff. After giving the takeoff clearance; I heard the controller in charge say 'is that guy stopping?' I saw aircraft Y approaching runway 13C at taxiway K and the aircraft was not stopping. I immediately cancelled the takeoff clearance for aircraft X and they stopped well short of runway 4L.when I was coordinating with ground control; I don't recall either of us using specific call signs which could easily lead to confusion regarding the runway crossing; especially in this departure/arrival configuration. The biggest takeaway from this incident is that coordination needs to be very clear and specific between ground and local control. When I am working local control I should not be complicit with ambiguous coordination; nor should I be ambiguous when coordinating.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MDW Tower Controllers reported miscommunication caused an aircraft to be cleared for takeoff with another aircraft beginning to cross the same runway.

Narrative: It was a very busy arrival and departure push; landing the Runways 22 Left and Right and departing Runway 13C. This configuration requires an extraordinary amount of coordination between ground and local for most of the arrivals and departures on the ground. Aircraft X was put into position on Runway 13C. Ground control was given permission to cross Runway 13C. I observed the runway to be clear and I made the rolling call for Runway 13C. I heard the 'Clear of runway 13C' and cleared Aircraft X for takeoff. After giving the takeoff clearance; I heard the Controller In Charge say 'is that guy stopping?' I saw Aircraft Y approaching Runway 13C at Taxiway K and the aircraft was not stopping. I immediately cancelled the takeoff clearance for Aircraft X and they stopped well short of Runway 4L.When I was coordinating with Ground Control; I don't recall either of us using specific call signs which could easily lead to confusion regarding the runway crossing; especially in this departure/arrival configuration. The biggest takeaway from this incident is that coordination needs to be very clear and specific between Ground and Local Control. When I am working Local Control I should not be complicit with ambiguous coordination; nor should I be ambiguous when coordinating.

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.

Mdw tower controllers reported miscommunication caused an aircraft to be cleared for takeoff with another aircraft beginning to cross the same runway.