Air traffic controller saves day when 2 jets with same call number converge
An air traffic controller's quick thinking helped avert a dangerous situation when two jets, one landing in Phoenix and the other simultaneously taking off, shared the same flight number and radio frequency.
Updated on: August 14, 2026 / 9:31 PM EDT / CBS News
The veteran air traffic controller realized that American Airlines Flight 2482 from Chicago that was coming in for landing at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport — and one that had just taken off and was headed for Chicago — were on converging flights and had the same call sign.
After catching the issue, the veteran air traffic controller began giving instructions to the pilots by differentiating their descriptions, using "American 2842 departing" and "American 2482 arriving."
He was able to keep the aircraft separated, and both continued on their way without incident.
"I've been working air traffic for 25 years," the air traffic controller told the pilots, according to dispatch audio recorded by ATC.com. "I've never seen two aircraft pretty much merge with the same call sign. That's pretty incredible."