American Airlines blasted over blunder that ‘could have caused two of its planes to COLLIDE’ mid-air

TWO aircraft narrowly avoided a mid-air collision after a serious American Airlines blunder. Over the skies of Phoenix, Arizona, two planes were unknowingly cruising under identical flight numbers, following an error which put them on course to crash into one another. The two planes were on course for a crash until an air-traffic controller noticed the blunder Credit: Getty The two aircraft were given the identical number of AA2482 Credit: FlightRadar24 The impending crisis was scarcely averted after one eagle-eyed air traffic controller spotted the mix-up and leapt into action. The controller said the mistake could have been “disastrous”, according to audio posted by ATC.com. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! Both planes were flying the same route in opposite directions between Phoenix and Chicago on Friday. The route is usually manned by a single aircraft which flies back and forth between the two cities but a delay meant a second American Airlines plane was deployed to help remedy the hold-up. An air traffic controller instructed the two planes to fly at differing altitudes Credit: FlightRadar24 American Airlines have launched an investigation into the incident Credit: Getty When the Chicago-bound jet began to climb towards the Phoenix-bound plane the controller caught on to what was happening. The controller quickly instructed the two planes to maintain different altitudes so to keep them apart. He told one pilot: “[There’s] traffic [at] one o’clock and 10 miles, it’s your company, same call sign.” The pilot responded: “Incredible. Most read in The Sun “We’re looking, thank you. In sight, actually.” The audio reveals how the controller differentiated the two flights as “American 2482 on the arrival” and “American 2482 on the departure”. The controller was praised for the “nice work” by the Phoenix-bound pilot after the two planes had safely passed. The controller replied: “It could have been disastrous but I am glad it worked out.” Aviation safety expert Steve Arroyo told the Associated Press that the blunder likely originated in American’s dispatch centre. A worker there likely failed to realize that two planes with the same flight number would be in the air at the same time. Arroyo said: “You can drop the ball and that shouldn’t happen, but it’s nice to see that the system is resilient and we have all the safeguards.” The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and American Airlines have launched an investigation into how this incident occurred. They both emphasised how glad they were that everyone remained safe. In a statement to The Sun, American Airlines said: “We are reviewing ​the ​details ​related ​to ​two American ​flights with the same ​call sign near ​Phoenix ​(PHX) ​around ​midnight ​on Aug. 14. “The diligence ​and professionalism ​of air ​traffic controllers ​and our ​pilots ​ensured ​required separation was always maintained ​and the ​issue ​was ​identified and ​addressed. “Both flights ​continued safely and ​without incident.” They note that flight 2482 is a round trip that uses the same number from Chicago (ORD) ​to ​PHX ​and ​back ​to ​ORD. The FFA told The Sun: “American Airlines Flight 2482 was descending for Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport when another American Airlines flight departed using the same flight number. “Air traffic control recognized the identical call signs and made sure the aircraft maintained the required separation. Both flights continued without incident. “The FAA is investigating the event that occurred around 12 a.m. local time on Friday, Aug. 14.” Comment now