Medium Transport; Low Wing; 2 Turboprop Eng
Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 2.0
Confusion; Human-Machine Interface; Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types; Conflict Airborne Conflict; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Human Factors; Airspace Structure; Company Policy; Environment - Non Weather Related; ATC Equipment / Nav Facility / Buildings; Procedure
I had just came back from break when my supervisor asked me to open up a sector from a combined sector as both were at an increased volume. As I sat down I advised the Radar controller and Handoff position that they could call back when they are ready to have the sectors split. When it is busy I like to leave that decision up to the team who is working the traffic currently so as not to distract them with uncontrolled datablocks. As I sat; plugged into the non-open sector; I heard them both question out loud with confusion as to where Air Carrier XX was. The Radar controller asked for his location. I was scanning the scope too and found Air Carrier XX just Southwest of [fix] so I rose from my seat and pointed on the scope.That's when I heard the Radar Controller say no; he said he's at 28000 feet to which theirs was at 27000 feet stopped for traffic. That's when the Handoff Controller jumped and pointed at a limited datablock at 28000 feet just east of our Air Carrier XX. The Radar Controller immediately changed his [callsign] to Air Carrier XY and the handoff was hurrying to get a flight plan for the other Air Carrier XX at 28000 feet. At this time I noticed that splitting the sector in this time of confusion was probably not the best idea so I asked the sector team if they wanted me to track. They said yes so I sat down; the Radar Controller stood to my side; and we worked like this until things calmed down within 20-30 minutes. Later we were told a controller in another area deleted an active flight plan in order to depart the other flight plan.
[Report narrative contains no additional information.]
ZID Center Controllers reported a Handoff Assist controller removed an active flight plan from the computer causing the radar data tag to drop off their radar display.