FAA Probes American Airlines Callsign Duplication Incident Near Phoenix

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is investigating an incident where two American Airlines Boeing 737-800s flew under the same callsign near Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. The duplication occurred on August 14, 2026, shortly after midnight, when both aircraft were airborne in the same sector.

The flights, identified as 'American 2482', one arriving from Chicago O'Hare and the other departing for the same airport, were assigned the same identifier due to a delay in the inbound flight. Instead of holding the return service, American Airlines assigned a second aircraft, which departed at 11:58 p.m.

Once the conflict became apparent, air traffic controllers restricted the departing jet to 9,000 feet and kept the arrival above it. Both crews reported seeing each other's aircraft in sight. The controller involved stated that he had not seen two aircraft merge under the same callsign in 25 years of working traffic.