Air traffic controller catches two planes with same call sign, averting disaster

Two American Airlines jets in the same airspace briefly shared the same flight number and radio frequency. Luckily, the quick thinking of a veteran air traffic controller prevented potential catastrophe. Kris Van Cleave has the story.

The controller acted quickly to avoid confusion and kept the two flights at a safe distance, finding a solution to ensure that both planes understood directions

Audio of the incident shows how he found a solution to ensure the American Airlines jets maintained proper separation as one arrived from Chicago shortly after the other had taken off in Phoenix.

A potential disaster was averted Friday when a Phoenix air traffic controller recognized two American Airlines jets mistakenly were flying the same flight number and acted quickly to avoid confusion and keep them a safe distance apart.

A potential disaster was averted Friday when a Phoenix air traffic controller recognized two American Airlines jets mistakenly were flying the same flight number and acted quickly to avoid confusion and keep them a safe distance apart.

2 Planes With The Same Flight Number Avoid Possible Disaster Thanks To Quick-Thinking Controller  huffpost.com

2 planes with the same flight number avoid possible disaster thanks to quick-thinking controller  AP News

Potential disaster was averted when a Phoenix air traffic controller recognized two American Airlines jets mistakenly were flying the same flight number and acted quickly to avoid confusion and keep them a safe distance apart

Potential disaster was averted when a Phoenix air traffic controller recognized two American Airlines jets mistakenly were flying the same flight number and acted quickly to avoid confusion and keep them a safe distance apart