- Two American Airlines jets were found to briefly share the same flight number and radio frequency in what could have turned into a major problem for the airline.
- A potential mid-air collision was averted in the US after a Phoenix air traffic controller recognised that two American Airlines planes were mistakenly flying under the same number, and acted quickly to keep them apart.
- Audio of the incident revealed how the air traffic controller ensured the planes, both called American 2482, were kept apart as one arrived from Chicago shortly after the other had departed from Phoenix.
- The controller quickly began referring to the arriving plane as "American 2482 on the arrival" and the departing one as "American 2482 on the departure" to keep them straight.
- The controller kept the arriving plane safely above the departing one, even as their flight paths converged, ensuring the pilots of both planes saw each other when they were miles apart.
- The incident will be investigated by both American Airlines and the Federal Aviation Administration, both of whom emphasised their relief that everyone remained safe.
- American Airlines Flight 2482 is a round-trip route that often flies between Chicago and Phoenix.
- The flight out of Chicago was delayed by weather, so American Airlines found a second plane in Phoenix, which left on time.
- US aviation safety expert Steve Arroyo stated it's likely someone inside the airline's dispatch centre failed to catch that both planes would be in the air at the same time with identical flight numbers.
- American Airlines praised the controller's efforts, stating, "The diligence and professionalism of air traffic controllers and our pilots ensured required separation was always maintained and the issue was identified and addressed."
Two American Airlines jets, both designated as Flight 2482, nearly collided near Phoenix when they shared the same call sign and radio frequency. The incident occurred as one plane arrived from Chicago while the other departed from Phoenix.16810
Quick action by a Phoenix air traffic controller prevented a potential disaster. The controller, who has 25 years of experience, stated, "I've never seen two aircraft pretty much merge with the same call sign. That's pretty incredible."
The controller managed to keep the planes apart by referring to them as "American 2482 on the arrival" and "American 2482 on the departure", ensuring they maintained safe distances despite converging flight paths.34
The departing plane was instructed not to climb too high, allowing the arriving flight to land safely.
The incident, which will be investigated by both American Airlines and the Federal Aviation Administration, underscores the importance of communication and vigilance in air traffic control.
Aviation safety expert Steve Arroyo noted that the situation likely arose from a failure within the airline's dispatch center to recognize the overlap of flights. He remarked, "You can drop the ball, and that shouldn't happen, but it's nice to see that the system is resilient and we have all the safeguards."9
American Airlines praised the controller's professionalism, stating, "The diligence and professionalism of air traffic controllers and our pilots ensured required separation was always maintained and the issue was identified and addressed."
“The controller kept the arriving plane above the departing one and directed the latter not to climb too high, ensuring separation. Aviation safety expert Steve Arroyo said the dispatch center likely failed to catch the overlap, but praised the system's resilience.”
