One jet inbound from Chicago; other had just departed Phoenix
A Phoenix air traffic controller averted a potential collision early Friday after recognizing that two American Airlines jets were flying under the same call sign and acting quickly to keep them apart.
Both aircraft were operating as American 2482. One plane had arrived from Chicago shortly after the other had taken off in Phoenix, and audio of the incident — recorded shortly after midnight Friday and provided by ATC.com — captured the controller working out how to keep the two aircraft apart over the Phoenix airport.
The danger was ambiguity. If both pilots thought the controller was telling them to fly at the same altitude as they headed toward each other, they might have collided, so it was crucial they knew which plane he was directing. The controller ensured the two jets maintained proper separation and kept them a safe distance apart.
After the departing plane had safely cleared the area, the controller reflected on the rarity of the situation.
“I’ve been working air traffic for 25 years. I’ve never seen two aircraft pretty much merge with the same call sign. That’s pretty incredible,” he said.