2 planes with the same flight number avoid possible disaster thanks to quick-thinking controller
- A Phoenix air traffic controller noticed two American Airlines jets were using the same flight number and took steps to keep them separated.
- The planes were both identified as American 2482, one arriving from Chicago and the other departing Phoenix.
- The controller used clearer callouts, referring to the aircraft as the arrival and the departure, while maintaining safe altitude separation.
- American Airlines and the Federal Aviation Administration said they would investigate how the scheduling overlap occurred.
- No one was injured and both flights continued safely without incident.
A Phoenix air traffic controller prevented a potentially dangerous situation Friday after realizing that two American Airlines jets were operating under the same flight number. One plane was arriving from Chicago while the other was departing Phoenix, and the controller acted quickly to keep the aircraft safely apart.
Audio from the incident shows the controller distinguishing between the two planes as “American 2482 on the arrival” and “American 2482 on the departure.” He kept the arriving jet above the departing one and made sure both crews could see each other while they were still miles apart.
The controller later said he had worked air traffic for 25 years and had never seen two aircraft essentially merge with the same call sign. After the planes passed safely, the arriving pilot praised the controller’s work.
American Airlines said the issue remained under investigation along with the Federal Aviation Administration. The airline said the crews and controllers maintained the required separation and that both flights continued safely without incident.
两架同一航班号飞机因管制员迅速应对而避免潜在险情
凤凰城一名空中交通管制员在周五发现两架美国航空客机使用了相同航班号后，避免了一起可能的危险情况。一架飞机从芝加哥抵达，另一架从凤凰城起飞，管制员迅速采取措施，保持两机安全间隔。
事件录音显示，管制员用“到达的美国航空2482”和“起飞的美国航空2482”来区分两架飞机。他让抵达飞机保持在起飞飞机上方，并确保两机在仍相距数英里时就能互相看见。
管制员事后表示，他从事空中交通管制25年来，从未见过两架飞机几乎以相同呼号交会。两机安全通过后，抵达航班飞行员还称赞了他的处理。
美国航空和美国联邦航空管理局表示，相关情况仍在调查中。美国航空称，机组和管制员始终维持了规定的间隔，两架航班都安全继续飞行，未发生事故。