Two 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 operating under the same flight number, American 2482.
- One flight was arriving from Chicago while the other was departing Phoenix, creating a risk of confusion as their paths converged.
- The controller quickly clarified instructions by referring to the aircraft as the arrival and the departure to keep them separated.
- American Airlines and the Federal Aviation Administration said they will investigate how the mistake happened.
- Both flights continued safely without incident, according to American Airlines.
A Phoenix air traffic controller prevented a possible disaster Friday after realizing that two American Airlines jets were both using the same flight number, American 2482. One plane was arriving from Chicago while the other had just departed Phoenix, and the controller moved quickly to avoid confusion as the aircraft came close to one another.
Audio of the incident shows the controller immediately distinguishing between “American 2482 on the arrival” and “American 2482 on the departure.” He kept the arriving aircraft above the departing one and made sure the pilots could see each other while still miles apart.
The departing aircraft was also directed not to climb too high, preserving the separation between the two jets. After the planes passed safely, the arriving pilot praised the controller’s work.
American Airlines and the Federal Aviation Administration said they will investigate how the overlap occurred. American said the diligence and professionalism of the controller and the pilots ensured required separation was maintained and that both flights continued safely without incident.
两架同一航班号飞机在空管迅速处置下避免潜在险情
一名凤凰城空中交通管制员在星期五避免了一起潜在险情。当时他发现两架美国航空客机都在使用同一个航班号 American 2482，一架正从芝加哥抵达，另一架刚从凤凰城起飞。随着两机航路接近，管制员迅速采取措施，避免了混淆。
事发音频显示，管制员立即用“到达航班”和“起飞航班”来区分两架飞机。他让抵达飞机保持在起飞飞机上方，并确保两机在相距仍有数英里时就能彼此看到。
管制员还指示起飞飞机不要爬升过高，以维持两机之间的间隔。两机安全通过后，抵达航班飞行员还称赞了管制员的处理。
美国航空和美国联邦航空管理局表示将调查这一重叠情况是如何发生的。美国航空说，管制员和飞行员的谨慎与专业确保了规定间隔始终得到保持，两架航班最终都安全继续飞行，没有发生事故。