"Could have ended in disaster": Two planes flew under the same number — and nearly collided
An unusual incident in Phoenix, USA, highlighted the importance of air traffic controller vigilance after two American Airlines planes found themselves in the same airspace under the same flight number. The controller reacted in real-time, changing the way he communicated with the crews, thereby preventing a collision.
An incident that could have ended in a major disaster was averted last Friday in Phoenix, USA, after an air traffic controller identified that two American Airlines planes were mistakenly flying under the same flight number, 2482. The controller acted quickly to prevent confusion between the flight crews and ensured the planes remained at a safe distance from each other.
The incident occurred shortly after midnight, when one plane was arriving from Chicago while another was taking off from Phoenix. In the air traffic control recording, the controller is heard realizing the problem and taking steps to ensure his instructions were clear to both crews as their flight paths converged. The controller noted that he has been working in air traffic control for 25 years and has never seen two aircraft nearly merge with the same call sign.
In the recording, the controller is heard referring to the planes as "American 2482 landing" and "American 2482 departing" to distinguish between them. He kept the plane arriving for landing at a safe altitude above the plane that was taking off, even as their flight paths crossed. Additionally, the controller ensured that both crews saw each other while the planes were still several miles apart and instructed the departing plane not to climb too high to maintain vertical separation between the aircraft. After they passed each other safely, the pilot arriving from Chicago complimented the controller on his work, and the controller replied:
"The incident could have been a disaster, but I am glad everything worked out."
Aviation safety expert Steve Arroyo explained that it is possible someone at the airline's dispatch center did not realize that both planes would be in the air simultaneously under the same flight number. Arroyo, who worked for four decades at United Airlines, said he has encountered this type of problem only a few times, and that it is a mistake that should not happen, but the incident also illustrates the aviation system's ability to deal with failures through additional safety mechanisms.
