Citation X (C750)
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Communication Breakdown
ATC Issue All Types; Inflight Event / Encounter Other / Unknown
Procedure
During cruise flight another airplane had a stuck mic for about 10 minutes. After the mic became unstuck; ATC called our flight number; and the pilot not flying acknowledged his query. Five minutes later a Controller; I believe it was now a different Controller from before; announced our flight number and said 'if you're still here go to' and gave us a new frequency. We acknowledged and changed frequencies. We checked in with this Controller and were told they'd been trying to contact us for 5 minutes. We replied that we'd been on the other frequency during the hot mic event; and had responded to the Controller's query on the same frequency when the mic became unstuck; and had then switched to this frequency when instructed. Also; at this time; there were two other Company airplanes on frequency that the Controller mixed up several times. I believe the Controller; overloaded from the stuck mic event; and the similar sounding flights our three company flights; had thought he gave us a frequency change; when in fact he did not. The Controller told us because they couldn't get a hold of us that we caused problems for Center; almost as if he thought we had the stuck mic; when in fact we did not and were available for contact on the previous frequency the whole time after the mic became unstuck and communications could once again flow without problem.The event was initiated by the stuck mic of an airliner for 10 minutes. We both had our 'antenna' up because of the stuck mic. The Controller was overloaded due to lack of communications between all planes. We replied to the Controller's query when the mic became unstuck; but I believe the Controller then forgot about us or thought he told us to switch; but he never actually did.
The Captain of a small corporate jet reports communication problems and ATC confusion when a stuck mic on frequency renders communications unavailable for about 10 minutes. Similar company call signs contribute to ATC's confusion.