US planes with same call sign fly narrowly past each other

A potential disaster was narrowly averted in the United States when two American Airlines aircraft, operating with the identical call sign, flew in close proximity to each other. The incident, reported by media outlets, involved planes on the route between Chicago and Phoenix.

According to reports, the two aircraft maintained a horizontal distance of approximately 4.8 kilometers and a vertical separation of 610 meters. The critical situation was managed by a vigilant air traffic controller who guided the planes safely past each other.

One air traffic controller, who intervened to prevent a collision, expressed his shock at the event. "I have been working in air traffic control for 25 years. I have never seen two planes with the same call sign this close. It's truly unbelievable," he was quoted as saying by ABC 15 and KOAA News 5.

The airline operates flights in both directions between Chicago and Phoenix using the same flight call sign, a practice that led to this near-miss. The incident highlights potential risks associated with communication and identification protocols in air traffic management.

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I have been working in air traffic control for 25 years. I have never seen two planes with the same call sign this close. It's truly unbelievable.