Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 2
Situational Awareness; Confusion; Distraction
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Human Factors
After releasing Aircraft X off BET airport; BET TWR entered a departure message for the aircraft. Moments after Aircraft X auto-acquired at 015 turning southbound into a right downwind to land north. It was very noticeable since a CA (Conflict Alert) sounded due to close proximity with a 1200 VFR beacon code inside tower's airspace. I figured Aircraft X was returning to the airport for reasons unknown. I waited until after I observed the aircraft descend and appear to land on RWY 1R to call tower and inquire about what I saw. I did make the mistake of not using the full call sign (Aircraft X) and only [the first three letters]. I asked if they were going to depart again shortly or if they would re-file a new flight plan and if I should remove the one that was active. The tower informed me that they would re-file and the flight plan could be removed. Though; tower was talking about a different aircraft still on the ground. I proceeded to remove the flight plan and drop the target on the radar display. Little did I know Aircraft X was well East of BET airport still climbing to assigned altitude. 10 minutes later the relieving controller received a transmission from Aircraft X asking for a reroute to save flying time. Questioning who was calling; and me still being in the operations area post viewing; I recognized the squawk code and we got the flight plan restored and data on the airborne flight.I don't know why the aircraft tagged up so low and was shown landing. The facility is unable to pull up the radar playback. Apparently there was an equipment malfunction and for seven and a half hours no radar data was being recorded.In the future I will make sure to use full call signs to avoid confusion or incorrect coordination. Even though the radar was not working properly; this could have been avoided if coordination was better.
Anchorage Center Controller reported an aircraft departed; they thought they were returning on their own to the departure airport; but actually kept flying and were discovered minutes later when the pilot questioned the Controller about a possible re-route.