Created Saturday, Aug 15th 2026 10:14Z, last updated Saturday, Aug 15th 2026 10:14Z
An American Airlines Boeing 737-800, registration N925AN performing flight
AA-2482 from Phoenix,AZ to Chicago O'Hare,IL (USA), was climbing out of Phoenix's runway 07L cleared to climb to 9000 feet.
An American Airlines Boeing 737-800, registration N946NN performing flight
AA-2482 from Chicago O'Hare,IL to Phoenix,AZ (USA), was descending towards Phoenix cleared to descend to 10000 feet.
The two aircraft were on crossing trajectories when the departing
AA-2482 reported on frequency climbing to 9000 feet. The controller cleared the aircraft to maintain 9000 feet. Then spotted the same callsign on the two aircraft and continued:
ATC: "American 2482, American 2482 on the arrival, American 2482 if you are on the arrival, I need you to maintain 10,000 feet!"
N946NN: "10,000 for American 2482 on arrival."
ATC: "And there is an American 2482, a 737, on the departure, is that correct?"
N925AN: "Correct, climbing to 9000."
ATC: "American 2482 on departure, I need you to maintain 9000, traffic at 1 o'clock in 10nm, is your company, same callsign, descending 11,800 for 10,000.
N925AN: "Incredible, we are looking, thank you, in sight actually, American 2482 on departure."
The aircraft crossed each other shortly after, the departing maintaining 9000 feet, the arriving still descending to 10,000 feet.
Subsequently both flights continued to their destinations without further incidents.
The controller said later: "I’ve been working air traffic for 25 years. I’ve never seen two aircraft pretty much merge with the same call sign. That’s pretty incredible." The arriving crew complimented the controller.
The FAA and the airline are investigating.
Map and trajectories (Graphics: AVH/Google Earth):
Related Flight:
AA2482,
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