Air carrier first officer reports critical conflict with B767 under tow after being cleared to taxi ...

Narrative:

We deiced due to residual ice on aircraft from previous approach. Windshield view was obscured by fluid on sides. We pushed off gate; contacted clearance and taxied short of a; monitoring ground 121.75. Ground called us with the clearance 'taxi 9R; a; A15; B; J'. We both verified the route on our chart; captain started to taxi forward; and I cleared right. We came to an abrupt stop; and when I looked left there was a B767 under tow that would have hit us just to our left. Collision was barely avoided. B767 under tow continued; followed by an rj. Shortly thereafter the controller again issued the same clearance. We explained that we understood; but stopped short to avoid collision. There was a long pause and then he cleared us to taxi yet again. It is clear that the controller either forgot he gave us the first clearance; or forgot about the other aircraft. We did not hear anything else on frequency and believe the other aircraft were on the inbound frequency of 121.9 while we were on the outbound frequency of 121.75.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Air Carrier First Officer reports critical conflict with B767 under tow after being cleared to taxi to Runway 9R ORD. Aircraft had been deiced at the gate and windshields were partially obscured with deicing fluid.

Narrative: We deiced due to residual ice on aircraft from previous approach. Windshield view was obscured by fluid on sides. We pushed off gate; contacted clearance and taxied short of A; monitoring Ground 121.75. Ground called us with the clearance 'taxi 9R; A; A15; B; J'. We both verified the route on our chart; Captain started to taxi forward; and I cleared right. We came to an abrupt stop; and when I looked left there was a B767 under tow that would have hit us just to our left. Collision was barely avoided. B767 under tow continued; followed by an RJ. Shortly thereafter the Controller again issued the same clearance. We explained that we understood; but stopped short to avoid collision. There was a long pause and then he cleared us to taxi yet again. It is clear that the Controller either forgot he gave us the first clearance; or forgot about the other aircraft. We did not hear anything else on frequency and believe the other aircraft were on the inbound frequency of 121.9 while we were on the outbound frequency of 121.75.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.

Attributes
ACN	934348
Time
Date	201102
Local Time Of Day	1801-2400
Place
Locale Reference	ORD.Airport
State Reference	IL
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Taxi
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	B767 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Taxi
Person 1
Function	First Officer Pilot Not Flying
Events
Anomaly	Conflict Ground Conflict Critical

Air carrier first officer reports critical conflict with B767 under tow after being cleared to taxi to runway 9R ord. Aircraft had been deiced at the gate and windshields were partially obscured with deicing fluid.