Date: 201907
Local time of day: 1801-2400
Location: ZZZ.Airport, US
Light: Daylight
Aircraft: B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Passenger
Flight phase: Taxi
ATC / advisory: Ground ZZZ
Second aircraft: Commercial Fixed Wing
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: Pilot Not Flying; First Officer
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Human factors: Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness
Second reporter function: Captain; Pilot Flying
Anomaly: Conflict Ground Conflict; Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Incursion Taxiway
Detector: Person Flight Crew; Person Air Traffic Control
When detected: Taxi
Result: Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification
Contributing factors: Airport; Human Factors
Primary problem: Human Factors

Narrative: We landed [Runway] XXR in ZZZ. Tower instructed us to cross [Runway] 18L on E and contact Ground on [frequency]. Captain continued taxi on E while First Officer attempted contact on [frequency]. There was momentary radio congestion before contact was established. Ground control stated 'Company XXXX; pass behind (other carrier) aircraft and continue taxi on E. At this time we were approaching C on E and (other carrier) aircraft was westbound on F and approaching a right turn onto C. ATC rightly observed that if we continued we would be unable to give way to (other carrier) aircraft and directed us to stop. Both (other carrier) aircraft and us stopped and then ATC directed (other carrier) aircraft to turn north on C as planned and we continued on E after he passed; without further incident.


Second narrative: After landing in ZZZ on Runway XXR we were cleared to cross Runway XXL on Taxiway E. After crossing; there was a lot of communication on Ground frequency so we were delayed in checking in with Ground. From past experience I was confident we would get clearance to continue taxi on E to the east side of the field. I saw a (other carrier) aircraft taxiing towards us westbound on Taxiway F so I did not expect a conflict. Then; just as Ground responded to us; I saw (other carrier) aircraft turn into us on Taxiway C as we also approached Taxiway C. Ground instructions to us were to pass behind (other carrier) aircraft then proceed on Taxiway E. He then commanded 'STOP' as (other carrier) aircraft turned into us. We had safe distance from each other; but I would say minimal distance. We determined at that point in a three-way radio conversation that (other carrier) aircraft could taxi across E on C as Ground had planned. Still; this actually did startle me and we came to an abrupt stop at the 'STOP' command; and this came close to being an aircraft to aircraft strike on the Ground. I needed to stop my aircraft before the first intersection on Taxiway E until we received taxi instruction from Ground Control. My expectation bias got the best of me as I marched on down the taxiway without actual clearance after crossing the runway.


Synopsis: B737 flight crew reported a taxiway incursion resulting in a ground conflict.