A plane carrying 92 passengers lands 20 years after the opening of… See more

The Aircraft With No Recent Departure

Air traffic control first noticed something unusual when the plane’s identification code appeared on radar. The flight number matched a route that had been discontinued two decades earlier. Initially, controllers assumed it was a clerical glitch — perhaps a reused number or a data-entry error.

But the aircraft was real. It requested permission to land. Its transponder signal was active. Its communication with the tower was calm and routine.

The pilot’s voice, according to reports, sounded steady. He identified the flight exactly as it had been logged 20 years prior.

Moments later, the aircraft touched down without incident.