Two Planes, One Call Sign | California News

A near-disaster at Phoenix Airport was averted when two American Airlines planes—one landing, one taking off—shared the same flight number and radio frequency. A veteran air traffic controller with 25 years of experience spotted the mix-up and swiftly distinguished the aircraft by adding “departing” or “arriving” to the call sign. The confusion stemmed from a delayed Chicago-bound flight being replaced by another plane to accommodate waiting passengers. Thanks to the controller’s quick thinking, both planes remained safely separated. The FAA confirmed proper separation was maintained, and American Airlines praised the crew and controllers for their professionalism. This rare incident underscores the critical role of air traffic control in keeping aviation safe. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/79d8d7ac55b98613