Medium Large Transport; Low Wing; 2 Turbojet Eng
Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 3
Troubleshooting; Situational Awareness; Human-Machine Interface; Distraction; Confusion
ATC Issue All Types; Airspace Violation All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Procedure; Aircraft; Human Factors; ATC Equipment / Nav Facility / Buildings
I observed a beacon code coming up from Mexico. I can't recall if it was me or my D side that tracked the aircraft. Apparently what happened was the aircraft was tracked up using his beacon code. Unfortunately there was an aircraft in my sector who also had the same code. When the aircraft was tracked up it stole the data tag from Aircraft X and placed it on the one in Mexico. Shortly thereafter I go on break without realizing what had happened. So Aircraft X continued on to the next sector as a mode C intruder. I suppose if the system is capable of noticing two aircraft have the same beacon code maybe there could be an additional safety measure built in to identify aircraft with the same code within a certain proximity of each other.
ZAB Controller observes a beacon coded target. Another aircraft in his sector had the same beacon code. The original flight was tracked as a Mode-C intruder.