Narrative:

The flight plan and cpdlc clearance were obtained via ACARS using dispatch release 1. The before start originating checklist and briefings were conducted using this release. The cpdlc clearance was accepted; both of us verifying the points on the release to the clearance and with the flight plan loaded into the FMC from release 1. We also had an FAA inspector who in following me around on the walkaround; pointed out a very small streak of fluid underneath the captain side wing; that we felt obligated to address with maintenance since the FAA guy pointed it out. I had to physically point it out to maintenance since no experienced flight crew or maintenance personnel would have thought twice about it; and maintenance now felt obligated to at least run the flaps to prove there were no issues with a leak in the flap system. Release 1's flight plan had us doing the EMMTT4 zalea hrv ...redfn. Just before push; we got release 2; which we did not notice had different routing after zalea. It did the EMMTT4 zalea...KH09K. Likewise; we did not get a message through cpdlc; ground; tower; or clearance delivery that changed our previously accepted clearance; corresponding to release 1. After resubmitting pwb using the new jepp plan number from release 2; we got our takeoff data and performed the before push checklist. We departed uneventfully and a short time after passing the zalea waypoint; houston center said they were showing a deviation from our flight plan and asked us what we were showing as a next waypoint. I responded hrv and they asked if that was the clearance we received from clearance delivery. I said yes; but more accurately should have said that our clearance was obtained and accepted using cpdlc. Houston center then gave us routing over to remis.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Air carrier flight crew reported deviating off of cleared route due to ATC change through CPDLC that was not recognized by the crew.

Narrative: The flight plan and CPDLC clearance were obtained via ACARS using Dispatch Release 1. The Before Start Originating Checklist and Briefings were conducted using this Release. The CPDLC clearance was accepted; both of us verifying the points on the Release to the clearance and with the flight plan loaded into the FMC from Release 1. We also had an FAA inspector who in following me around on the walkaround; pointed out a very small streak of fluid underneath the Captain side wing; that we felt obligated to address with Maintenance since the FAA guy pointed it out. I had to physically point it out to Maintenance since no experienced Flight Crew or Maintenance Personnel would have thought twice about it; and Maintenance now felt obligated to at least run the flaps to prove there were no issues with a leak in the flap system. Release 1's flight plan had us doing the EMMTT4 ZALEA HRV ...REDFN. Just before push; we got Release 2; which we did not notice had different routing after ZALEA. It did the EMMTT4 ZALEA...KH09K. Likewise; we did not get a message through CPDLC; Ground; Tower; or Clearance Delivery that changed our previously accepted clearance; corresponding to Release 1. After resubmitting PWB using the new Jepp Plan number from Release 2; we got our takeoff data and performed the Before Push Checklist. We departed uneventfully and a short time after passing the ZALEA waypoint; Houston Center said they were showing a deviation from our flight plan and asked us what we were showing as a next waypoint. I responded HRV and they asked if that was the clearance we received from Clearance Delivery. I said yes; but more accurately should have said that our clearance was obtained and accepted using CPDLC. Houston Center then gave us routing over to REMIS.

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.