B737-900
Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 26.0
Situational Awareness; Time Pressure
ATC Issue All Types; Conflict Airborne Conflict; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Other / Unknown
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Air Traffic Control Separated Traffic
Human Factors; Company Policy; Airspace Structure; Procedure
Denver Center descended Aircraft X to 35;000 feet from 37;000 feet which put him in direct conflict with Aircraft Y. The two aircraft were on collision courses and would lose separation 2 miles inside our airspace. Denver Center transferred communications of both aircraft to Minneapolis Center. We had a problem with two pilots acting unprofessional and congesting our frequency with their personal conversation! We issued control instructions for Aircraft Y to turn 10 degrees right and then another 10 degrees right to achieve positive separation. Each time the clearance and the read back were blocked by two pilots having their personal conversation! Eventually; and with great patience and persistence; we were able to keep these two aircraft separated. This is unbelievable that this continues to happen on a daily basis that ZDV is not held accountable for putting two aircraft on collision courses without ensuring any form of separation. This is going to result in a catastrophic collision one day! Hold controllers; supervisors and managers accountable for individuals not doing their job which could lead to lives being lost.
ZMP Controller reported Denver Center handed them off two aircraft that were on conflicting courses.