Narrative:

ZDC cleared us to FL290. Captain set FL290 in the altitude alert window. First officer read back FL290, pointed to the altitude alert window, repeated FL290. We were level at FL290 for a considerable amount of time. ZDC asked us to verify FL280. Response, negative FL290. He gave us a turn to 090 degrees and air carrier X a turn to 270 degrees, then within 30 seconds a turn on course. ZDC insisted he gave us FL280, stating we must have taken someone else's clearance. He also advised us that no conflict occurred. Remainder of flight operated under no anomalies.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZDC CTLR QUESTIONS B732 FLC'S ASSIGNED ALT, THEN TURNS ACFT TO RESOLVE POTENTIAL CONFLICT WITH ANOTHER ACFT AT SAME ALT.

Narrative: ZDC CLRED US TO FL290. CAPT SET FL290 IN THE ALT ALERT WINDOW. FO READ BACK FL290, POINTED TO THE ALT ALERT WINDOW, REPEATED FL290. WE WERE LEVEL AT FL290 FOR A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF TIME. ZDC ASKED US TO VERIFY FL280. RESPONSE, NEGATIVE FL290. HE GAVE US A TURN TO 090 DEGS AND ACR X A TURN TO 270 DEGS, THEN WITHIN 30 SECONDS A TURN ON COURSE. ZDC INSISTED HE GAVE US FL280, STATING WE MUST HAVE TAKEN SOMEONE ELSE'S CLRNC. HE ALSO ADVISED US THAT NO CONFLICT OCCURRED. REMAINDER OF FLT OPERATED UNDER NO ANOMALIES.

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.