What happened
On June 24, 2026, at Las Vegas Airport (LAS), a NetJets Cessna Citation Latitude (callsign Execjet 659) approaching runway 8R was instructed by the tower controller to go around due to traffic on the runway. The pilot responded, "Unable for fuel," a claim the controller seemed caught off guard by, as no minimum fuel or emergency had been declared earlier. The controller then cleared the jet to land. Shortly after, the controller instructed Alaska Airlines flight AS806 (behind the NetJets jet) to go around because the "traffic" (the NetJets jet) was not clearing the runway in time, suggesting the initial traffic claim may have been questionable or the situation evolved rapidly. The incident highlights a rare instance of a pilot refusing a go-around for fuel without prior declaration, raising questions about ATC communication and pilot decision-making in private aviation contexts