Narrative:

After pushback and engine start at milan's malpensa (limc), was given instructions to taxi south on taxiway Y to runway 35R and to hold short of runway 35L in taxiway F. Prior to reaching taxiway U (L5) flight was instructed to give way to landing traffic exiting runway 35L at taxiway F. After giving way, apron control said 'continue and hold short of runway 35L on taxiway F and contact tower 128.35.' after holding for approximately 2 mins on taxiway F with the parking brakes set, we received a clearance to cross runway 35L at taxiway F, 'cleared to cross runway 35L, landing traffic on final.' the first officer #2 (PF) responded 'roger, cleared to cross runway 35L, traffic in sight,' at which time I replied, 'I heard cleared to cross runway 35L, followed by first officer #1 (relief pilot) 'that's what I heard also, cleared to cross.' after crossing 1/2 way across the runway, the tower came back, 'you were not given clearance to cross runway 35L.' the first officer said what was read back prior to starting across and the controller said 'negative, traffic 4 mi on final. A report will be filed.' the tower asked the landing traffic if a go around was needed, which they answered 'negative.' after turning right onto taxiway C, I noticed the landing traffic touching down onto runway 35L. We departed to iad without further incident. Supplemental information from acn 554415: 1/2 way across, tower made an unintelligible call. Tower then told aircraft on final to go around because of us. However, the traffic continued. Tower then said 'you were not cleared to cross, I told you not to cross, twice.' all 3 pilots were on third trip to limc this month. Controller clearly said to cross the runway, there was no doubt amongst any of us. The controller may have meant to say don't cross, but he said something else in english.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN ALLEGED RWY INCURSION AFTER 3 CREW MEMBERS ALL HEAR A 'CLR TO CROSS RWY 35L, LNDG TFC ON FINAL' FROM TWR CTLR AT LIMC, FO.

Narrative: AFTER PUSHBACK AND ENG START AT MILAN'S MALPENSA (LIMC), WAS GIVEN INSTRUCTIONS TO TAXI S ON TXWY Y TO RWY 35R AND TO HOLD SHORT OF RWY 35L IN TXWY F. PRIOR TO REACHING TXWY U (L5) FLT WAS INSTRUCTED TO GIVE WAY TO LNDG TFC EXITING RWY 35L AT TXWY F. AFTER GIVING WAY, APRON CTL SAID 'CONTINUE AND HOLD SHORT OF RWY 35L ON TXWY F AND CONTACT TWR 128.35.' AFTER HOLDING FOR APPROX 2 MINS ON TXWY F WITH THE PARKING BRAKES SET, WE RECEIVED A CLRNC TO CROSS RWY 35L AT TXWY F, 'CLRED TO CROSS RWY 35L, LNDG TFC ON FINAL.' THE FO #2 (PF) RESPONDED 'ROGER, CLRED TO CROSS RWY 35L, TFC IN SIGHT,' AT WHICH TIME I REPLIED, 'I HEARD CLRED TO CROSS RWY 35L, FOLLOWED BY FO #1 (RELIEF PLT) 'THAT'S WHAT I HEARD ALSO, CLRED TO CROSS.' AFTER XING 1/2 WAY ACROSS THE RWY, THE TWR CAME BACK, 'YOU WERE NOT GIVEN CLRNC TO CROSS RWY 35L.' THE FO SAID WHAT WAS READ BACK PRIOR TO STARTING ACROSS AND THE CTLR SAID 'NEGATIVE, TFC 4 MI ON FINAL. A RPT WILL BE FILED.' THE TWR ASKED THE LNDG TFC IF A GAR WAS NEEDED, WHICH THEY ANSWERED 'NEGATIVE.' AFTER TURNING R ONTO TXWY C, I NOTICED THE LNDG TFC TOUCHING DOWN ONTO RWY 35L. WE DEPARTED TO IAD WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 554415: 1/2 WAY ACROSS, TWR MADE AN UNINTELLIGIBLE CALL. TWR THEN TOLD ACFT ON FINAL TO GO AROUND BECAUSE OF US. HOWEVER, THE TFC CONTINUED. TWR THEN SAID 'YOU WERE NOT CLRED TO CROSS, I TOLD YOU NOT TO CROSS, TWICE.' ALL 3 PLTS WERE ON THIRD TRIP TO LIMC THIS MONTH. CTLR CLRLY SAID TO CROSS THE RWY, THERE WAS NO DOUBT AMONGST ANY OF US. THE CTLR MAY HAVE MEANT TO SAY DON'T CROSS, BUT HE SAID SOMETHING ELSE IN ENGLISH.

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.