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, American 2482, and moved quickly to keep them separated.
- One plane was arriving from Chicago while the other had just departed Phoenix, creating a brief risk of confusion as their paths converged.
- The controller referred to them as the arrival and the departure, instructed the departing plane not to climb too high, and kept the arriving aircraft above it.
- Both pilots were able to see each other while still miles apart, and the two flights passed safely without incident.
- The FAA and American Airlines said they would investigate how the overlap happened, and American said its pilots and controllers maintained required separation throughout.
A Phoenix air traffic controller narrowly avoided a potentially serious problem Friday after spotting that two American Airlines jets were operating under the same flight number, American 2482. One flight was arriving from Chicago while the other had departed Phoenix, and the controller moved quickly to prevent confusion as their paths came close to overlapping.
Audio of the exchange shows the controller repeatedly distinguishing between “American 2482 on the arrival” and “American 2482 on the departure.” He kept the arriving aircraft above the departing one, instructed the departure not to climb too high, and made sure both crews could identify each other while they were still several miles apart.
After the planes passed safely, the arriving pilot praised the controller’s work. The controller replied that the situation could have been disastrous but ended safely. American Airlines and the Federal Aviation Administration said they will investigate how both aircraft ended up with the same flight number in the air at the same time.
两架使用相同航班号的飞机在管制员迅速反应下避开潜在险情
凤凰城一名空中交通管制员在周五及时发现，两架美国航空客机竟使用了相同的航班号 American 2482，从而避免了可能出现的严重险情。其中一架从芝加哥飞来，另一架则刚从凤凰城起飞，随着两机航线接近，情况一度容易引发混淆。
相关音频显示，管制员不断用“到达航班”和“起飞航班”来区分两架飞机。他让到达飞机保持在起飞飞机上方，并要求起飞飞机不要爬升过高，同时确保两机机组在相距数英里时就能看见对方。
两架飞机随后安全通过，抵达航班的飞行员称赞了管制员的处理。管制员则表示，这种情况本可能很危险，但最终平安解决。美国航空和美国联邦航空管理局表示，将调查为何会出现两架飞机同时使用相同航班号的情况。