Narrative:

After landing at dfw on runway 36L, we were instructed by tower to hold short of runway 36R at taxiway week. We complied while waiting to taxi in to the taxiway B concourse at spot Z. Shortly after tower said, 'aircraft X spot Z, taxi taxiway west to taxiway G.' we replied, 'roger, aircraft X, taxi taxiway week, taxiway G to spot Z.' as we crossed the runway, the tower controller informed us we had not been cleared to cross. We replied we had just received and acknowledged taxi instructions from him. He stated those instructions were for aircraft Y, taxiing out from spot Z at taxiway week, who he had spoken to on the ground frequency on which he was simulcasting. The copilot and I were both quite certain he had issued the taxi instructions to 'aircraft X' (not aircraft Y), but would have to review the tapes to verify such. The main problem here was the mistaken communications -- either on the part of the controller or the crew, coupled with the fact the controller was talking to 2 aircraft with almost identical call signs, without either aircraft knowing of the other. In either case, the controller apparently did not want us to cross the runway at that time. Supplemental information from acn 434569: contacted ramp on company frequency. Returned to #1 communication in time to hear 'aircraft X' with taxi clearance. I went to key microphone, but captain had already begun to read back clearance. I heard correct readback and no response from tower.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MD80 CREW TAXIED ACROSS ACTIVE RWY AFTER ACKNOWLEDGING CLRNC MEANT FOR ANOTHER ACFT WITH SIMILAR FLT NUMBER.

Narrative: AFTER LNDG AT DFW ON RWY 36L, WE WERE INSTRUCTED BY TWR TO HOLD SHORT OF RWY 36R AT TXWY WK. WE COMPLIED WHILE WAITING TO TAXI IN TO THE TXWY B CONCOURSE AT SPOT Z. SHORTLY AFTER TWR SAID, 'ACFT X SPOT Z, TAXI TXWY W TO TXWY G.' WE REPLIED, 'ROGER, ACFT X, TAXI TXWY WK, TXWY G TO SPOT Z.' AS WE CROSSED THE RWY, THE TWR CTLR INFORMED US WE HAD NOT BEEN CLRED TO CROSS. WE REPLIED WE HAD JUST RECEIVED AND ACKNOWLEDGED TAXI INSTRUCTIONS FROM HIM. HE STATED THOSE INSTRUCTIONS WERE FOR ACFT Y, TAXIING OUT FROM SPOT Z AT TXWY WK, WHO HE HAD SPOKEN TO ON THE GND FREQ ON WHICH HE WAS SIMULCASTING. THE COPLT AND I WERE BOTH QUITE CERTAIN HE HAD ISSUED THE TAXI INSTRUCTIONS TO 'ACFT X' (NOT ACFT Y), BUT WOULD HAVE TO REVIEW THE TAPES TO VERIFY SUCH. THE MAIN PROB HERE WAS THE MISTAKEN COMS -- EITHER ON THE PART OF THE CTLR OR THE CREW, COUPLED WITH THE FACT THE CTLR WAS TALKING TO 2 ACFT WITH ALMOST IDENTICAL CALL SIGNS, WITHOUT EITHER ACFT KNOWING OF THE OTHER. IN EITHER CASE, THE CTLR APPARENTLY DID NOT WANT US TO CROSS THE RWY AT THAT TIME. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 434569: CONTACTED RAMP ON COMPANY FREQ. RETURNED TO #1 COM IN TIME TO HEAR 'ACFT X' WITH TAXI CLRNC. I WENT TO KEY MIKE, BUT CAPT HAD ALREADY BEGUN TO READ BACK CLRNC. I HEARD CORRECT READBACK AND NO RESPONSE FROM TWR.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 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.