How should you respond if ATC gives conflicting taxi instructions?

• A. Proceed with the first instruction received.
• B. Ignore the conflict and continue on current path.
• C. Ask another aircraft for guidance.
• D. Acknowledge the conflict and request clarification; follow the latest clearance issued by ATC.

Answer: (D)

When taxi instructions conflict, the priority is safety and coordinated movement on the ground. The best action is to acknowledge the conflict, request clarification, and then follow the most recent ATC clearance. ATC can change instructions for traffic flow, runway usage, or obstacles, so the latest clearance reflects the current plan and helps prevent taxiway incursions or collisions.

In practice, acknowledge the conflict and ask for clarification, for example: “ATC, [callsign], conflicting taxi instructions. Say again the latest clearance.” Once ATC provides the clarified clearance, proceed exactly as issued with any necessary readbacks to confirm you’ve got it correct. If needed, hold position until the clarification is received.