On August 14, an air traffic controller in Phoenix prevented a potential collision between two American Airlines planes mistakenly assigned the same flight number.
The incident involved Flight 2482. One aircraft was traveling from Chicago to Phoenix and approaching the city, while the other was scheduled to depart from Phoenix.
The dispatcher recognized the error and immediately separated the flights by using distinct designations: “American 2482 on approach” and “American 2482 on departure.” The departing flight was instructed not to gain excessive altitude to maintain a safe distance.
After the planes safely dispersed, the pilot of the incoming flight thanked the dispatcher for his actions.
Flight 2482 typically operates between Chicago and Phoenix with one aircraft per route. However, due to a delay in the Chicago-bound flight, American Airlines dispatched an additional plane to Phoenix on that route, causing both aircraft to share the same airspace briefly.
