Commercial Fixed Wing
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument
Confusion; Situational Awareness; Communication Breakdown
ATC Issue All Types; Conflict Ground Conflict; Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Incursion Taxiway
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Airport; Chart Or Publication; Environment - Non Weather Related; Human Factors; Procedure
During our Arrival Briefing; my First Officer and I discussed in detail our taxi plan after landing in Louisville; due to numerous taxiway closures and the fact Runway 11/29 was closed for construction. We briefed the two 'hot spots' we would be taxiing in and around. Numerous NOTAMs described closed taxiways; notably Taxiway Golf closed between Taxiways Charlie and Mike. Landing on Runway 35L was uneventful. Tower instructed us to exit the runway to the right and to contact Ground. Our clearance from Ground Control was to taxi to Gate via Taxiways Bravo; Golf and Juliet; cross Runway 29 and to hold short of the ramp; an aircraft was currently at that gate. My FO (First Officer) read back the clearance; we agreed on the taxi clearance and complied with the clearance with no issues. We held short of the ramp on Taxiway J. The other aircraft pushed back; turned toward us and stopped. His clearance was to taxi straight ahead on Juliet. He couldn't since we were on Juliet short of the ramp. Ground Control then instructed us to taxi via Golf and to hold short of Mike. We read that back and quickly realized we were past Golf; unable to turn around and that Golf was a closed taxiway with barriers anyways. The Ground Controller gave us the clearance again; and we tried to come up with an alternate solution; but there was none. Ground Control gave the other aircraft a different clearance and after they cleared; we taxied uneventfully to the gate. I want to make aware a Safety issue with hot spots; construction and taxi clearance for other arriving and departing aircraft at SDF. We complied with the Ground Controller's initial clearance; but could not comply with the subsequent clearance. We think the Ground Controller either forgot that Golf was closed; thought that maybe it was open or couldn't see the area very well from his vantage point in the Tower.
We landed on Runway 35L in SDF. Once clearing the runway; our taxi instructions were 'B; G; J; cross Runway 29; Aircraft Y is pushing from gate; you can hold on Taxiway J until they are clear'. We complied with all the instructions. Once on Taxiway J; I told the Captain I will be off on COMM 2; to talk to Operations. While I was off; Ground Control gave him different taxi instructions that I was unaware of. I came back on COMM 1; and the other aircraft was taxiing towards us. I asked Ground Control whether that aircraft will be taxiing towards us or away from us. He said towards us; and that's why he told us to taxi onto Taxiway G and hold short of M1. I told him we were told to hold on Taxiway J. We started looking for Taxiway G on the chart and realized it's behind us; we could not taxi to it; and M1 was closed; which made things even more confusing as to what the Controller wanted us do. We didn't have an option to turn either direction; we could only go straight. He gave different instructions to the other aircraft; and we were able to proceed to the gate. This was not only a hot spot; but there was construction and multiple closures in the same area. We had briefed everything and were aware of the closures. I think the Controller couldn't see us from the Tower and might have thought we could still make Taxiway G.
Flight crew reported confusion regarding their taxi clearance that resulted in a taxiway incursion.