Narrative:

We were cleared to taxi for departure via taxiway C; hold short of runway 4. Ground control issued a clearance to cross runway 4 and taxi to runway 30L. While passing the hold short line ATC apparently revised the clearance to hold short of runway 4 at taxiway C; but was partially blocked by another transmission. By this point we were crossing the runway side line and continued across runway 4 as there was no identified or immediate conflict and was considerably safer than hard braking; which could have led to flight attendant injuries; and actually stopping on the runway. We replied to ground control that we never heard the call sign or the revised clearance and consequently did not respond to the revised clearance to hold short. Ground acknowledged the incident with 'it's nobody's fault anyway' and cleared us to continue taxiing to runway 30L for departure. At the time there were approximately 8 other aircraft on frequency and numerous blocked transmissions.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Large transport flight crew reported a runway incursion resulted after they missed a hold short call from ATC.

Narrative: We were cleared to taxi for departure via Taxiway C; hold short of Runway 4. Ground Control issued a clearance to cross Runway 4 and taxi to Runway 30L. While passing the hold short line ATC apparently revised the clearance to hold short of Runway 4 at Taxiway C; but was partially blocked by another transmission. By this point we were crossing the runway side line and continued across Runway 4 as there was no identified or immediate conflict and was considerably safer than hard braking; which could have led to Flight Attendant injuries; and actually stopping on the runway. We replied to Ground Control that we never heard the call sign or the revised clearance and consequently did not respond to the revised clearance to hold short. Ground acknowledged the incident with 'it's nobody's fault anyway' and cleared us to continue taxiing to Runway 30L for departure. At the time there were approximately 8 other aircraft on frequency and numerous blocked transmissions.

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.