Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
Two American Airlines jets came close to each other over Phoenix in a potentially disastrous mix-up after both were mistakenly operating under the same flight number. An alert air traffic controller intervened and ensured they maintained a safe distance.
The incident occurred shortly after midnight on Friday, when two aircraft identified as American Airlines Flight 2482 were briefly in the same airspace over Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport in Arizona.
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One aircraft was arriving from Chicago while the other had just taken off from Phoenix. The Chicago flight had been delayed by bad weather, prompting American Airlines to use a second aircraft for the Phoenix departure. Both flights, however, ended up operating under the same flight number, news agency AP reported.
The potential danger arose as the two aircraft approached converging flight paths. If both pilots had interpreted the controller’s instructions as applying to their aircraft, the situation could have resulted in a collision.
The air traffic controller quickly recognised the problem and began distinguishing between the two jets as “American 2482 on the arrival” and “American 2482 on the departure”.
He instructed the arriving aircraft to remain above the departing jet and directed the departing aircraft not to climb too high, maintaining the required vertical separation as their flight paths converged. He also ensured that both pilots spotted the other aircraft while they were still miles apart.
After the aircraft safely passed each other, the arriving pilot praised the controller for his handling of the situation.
“Nice work,” the pilot told him.
“It could have been disastrous, but I’m glad it worked out,” the controller replied.
The controller, who said he had worked in air traffic control for 25 years, later described the situation as highly unusual.
“I’ve never seen two aircraft pretty much merge with the same call sign. That’s pretty incredible,” he said.
Aviation safety expert Steve Arroyo said the incident likely occurred because the airline’s dispatch operation failed to detect that two aircraft would be airborne at the same time under the identical flight number.
The Federal Aviation Administration and American Airlines are expected to investigate how the error occurred.
American Airlines said its pilots and air traffic controllers ensured that the required separation was maintained and that both flights continued safely without incident.
– Ends
SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
