Originally Posted by
seawolf
Agreed with
Lux Flyer that AA didn’t mishear. They lost situation awareness.
ATC indicate take off is going to 4L before AA commence taxing and was then subsequently cleared to cross 31L @ kilo. AA read back was loud and clear.
It appears AA somehow lost situation awareness and wandered across active runway 4L. It doesn’t appear AA even realized what happened until after controller indicate possible pilot deviation and to copy number. Even then AA haven’t fully realized what happen as they asked controller to confirm that they were cleared to cross. They were cleared to cross 31L not 4L.
FAA will have to determine how two 777 pilots got lost and crossed onto active runway.
Forgot to link last night but this has ATC recording. The audio is clear that AA was instructed and acknowledged to cross 31L at KILO. At 2:20 in the video, AA transmission suggest they still weren't aware what had happened even thought they had already crossed 4L and holding short of 31L. Holding short of 31L would meant they were near taxiways JA, JB, or Z.
Looking at JFK map, even with AA believed they were departing 31L, crossing 31L at KILO (which AA acknowledged) wouldn't put the aircraft in a position to takeoff from that runway.