Two American Airlines Boeing 737-800s were airborne in the same sector near Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) under the callsign “American 2482” shortly after midnight on the 14th of August 2026, a duplication the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is now investigating. One aircraft was arriving from Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD/KORD), the other had just departed Phoenix (PHX/KPHX) for Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD/KORD).
Flightradar24 data showed the arriving flight descending through 11,000 feet while the departure was climbing toward 9,000 feet when the crews and the controller working the sector identified the duplication. The FAA said required separation was maintained throughout, and neither aircraft has been reported as receiving a collision avoidance resolution advisory.
American Airlines uses flight number 2482 in both directions on the Chicago to Phoenix route, normally with a single aircraft turning around at Phoenix. The inbound leg was delayed by weather and landed at 00:13 local time against a scheduled arrival of 10:43. Rather than hold the return service, the carrier assigned a second 737-800 already at Phoenix, which departed at 11:58. Both aircraft were airborne under the same identifier at the same time, on the same frequency.
Where a duplication is anticipated, the second flight is normally refiled under a different number before pushback, or a letter D is appended to the callsign. Neither step was taken.
Once the conflict became apparent, the controller began addressing the aircraft as “American 2482 on the arrival” and “American 2482 on the departure,” restricted the departing jet to 9,000 feet, kept the arrival above it, and passed traffic advisories to both crews as the tracks converged. Both reported the other aircraft in sight.
On frequency, the controller told the crews he had not seen two aircraft pass each other under the same callsign in 25 years of working traffic, adding that it could have been disastrous.
Aircraft Information Arriving:
Airline: American Airlines
Code: AA/AAL
Aircraft: Boeing 737-823
Registration: N946NN
Serial Number: 33234
Engines: 2 x CFMI CFM56-7B24
First Flew: 21st January 2014
Age: 12 Years
Aircraft Information Departing:
Airline: American Airlines
Code: AA/AAL
Aircraft: Boeing 737-823
Registration: N925AN
Serial Number: 29526
Engines: 2 x CFMI CFM56-7B24
First Flew: 7th December 1999
Age: 26 Years
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