Narrative:

At FL280 over gve we heard ZDC ATC clearance 'flight ie, expect mayas at FL220, descend and maintain FL240.' I (the first officer) read back clearance 'flight ie we'll expect that, leaving FL280 for FL240.' there was no further transmission from ZDC. Per company procedure I placed FL240 in altitude window, pointed to it and called FL240. The captain confirmed clearance, he pointed to altitude window and called FL240. After descent began, ZDC called back and asked our altitude. I answered 'descending out of FL265 for FL240.' ATC then said 'I did not give you a descent clearance.' I answered 'you gave us expect mayas at FL220, descend to FL240. I read it back as flight ie, what altitude do you want?' the controller said 'maintain FL260 now.' later he came back and said that clearance was for flight hie. However, I (the first officer), the captain and international relief officer all heard the clearance as for flight ie. The controller never answered or challenged my readback. Also, flight hie did not challenge me as reading back his clearance. In 30 yrs of flying, this is a first for me and a very disturbing incident. Thankfully there was no traffic conflict. I can see 3 scenarios that resulted in this incident: 1) all 3 of us in cockpit heard clearance as for ie incorrectly. 2) the controller accidentally read back clearance as for ie. 3) possibly there was blocked xmissions. Supplemental information from acn 487777: a possibility could be that hie and ie (us) read the clearance at exactly the same time and the controller only heard the ie portion.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B767-200 FLT IS GIVEN A CLRNC MEANT FOR ANOTHER FLT WITH A SIMILAR SOUNDING CALL SIGN BY CTLR AT ZDC, DC.

Narrative: AT FL280 OVER GVE WE HEARD ZDC ATC CLRNC 'FLT IE, EXPECT MAYAS AT FL220, DSND AND MAINTAIN FL240.' I (THE FO) READ BACK CLRNC 'FLT IE WE'LL EXPECT THAT, LEAVING FL280 FOR FL240.' THERE WAS NO FURTHER XMISSION FROM ZDC. PER COMPANY PROC I PLACED FL240 IN ALT WINDOW, POINTED TO IT AND CALLED FL240. THE CAPT CONFIRMED CLRNC, HE POINTED TO ALT WINDOW AND CALLED FL240. AFTER DSCNT BEGAN, ZDC CALLED BACK AND ASKED OUR ALT. I ANSWERED 'DSNDING OUT OF FL265 FOR FL240.' ATC THEN SAID 'I DID NOT GIVE YOU A DSCNT CLRNC.' I ANSWERED 'YOU GAVE US EXPECT MAYAS AT FL220, DSND TO FL240. I READ IT BACK AS FLT IE, WHAT ALT DO YOU WANT?' THE CTLR SAID 'MAINTAIN FL260 NOW.' LATER HE CAME BACK AND SAID THAT CLRNC WAS FOR FLT HIE. HOWEVER, I (THE FO), THE CAPT AND IRO ALL HEARD THE CLRNC AS FOR FLT IE. THE CTLR NEVER ANSWERED OR CHALLENGED MY READBACK. ALSO, FLT HIE DID NOT CHALLENGE ME AS READING BACK HIS CLRNC. IN 30 YRS OF FLYING, THIS IS A FIRST FOR ME AND A VERY DISTURBING INCIDENT. THANKFULLY THERE WAS NO TFC CONFLICT. I CAN SEE 3 SCENARIOS THAT RESULTED IN THIS INCIDENT: 1) ALL 3 OF US IN COCKPIT HEARD CLRNC AS FOR IE INCORRECTLY. 2) THE CTLR ACCIDENTALLY READ BACK CLRNC AS FOR IE. 3) POSSIBLY THERE WAS BLOCKED XMISSIONS. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 487777: A POSSIBILITY COULD BE THAT HIE AND IE (US) READ THE CLRNC AT EXACTLY THE SAME TIME AND THE CTLR ONLY HEARD THE IE PORTION.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.