Narrative:

Aircraft X was given direct psk from ZOB. I called ZOB C69 and told them I could not take that flight at FL380 because of traffic on J149 departing out ZDC. (They replied I only see limiteds.) I told them aircraft X needs to back east. ZOB then asked if I would take aircraft X at FL370 wadof. I said if ZDC (W42) would approve it I would accept the flight at FL370 (by giving aircraft X direct psk the aircraft flies 2 mi into my airspace into ZDC. Aircraft X data block reappeared with FL370 in the data block (showing FL380 descending to FL370). We then took handoff on aircraft Y on J149 wbound at FL380. As of this time aircraft X had not started a descent. When aircraft were 15 NM apart converging at 90 degrees left ZOB called and said aircraft X was NORDO and did not get the descent. At the same time ZID (W42) was calling emergency on landlines to tell us they had shipped aircraft Y to us and ZOB said air carrier X was NORDO. I then hung up and tried aircraft X to see if the aircraft was on our frequency (no luck). Aircraft Y had just checked in prior to that and was then given a TA and told to descend. Aircraft Y leveled at FL370 when aircraft X was approximately 5.1 NM north of him.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZID CTLR DESCRIBED NEAR OPERROR AT FL380 WHEN CONFLICTING TFC WAS NORDO AND COORD WITH ADJACENT SECTOR WAS HURRIED.

Narrative: ACFT X WAS GIVEN DIRECT PSK FROM ZOB. I CALLED ZOB C69 AND TOLD THEM I COULD NOT TAKE THAT FLT AT FL380 BECAUSE OF TFC ON J149 DEPARTING OUT ZDC. (THEY REPLIED I ONLY SEE LIMITEDS.) I TOLD THEM ACFT X NEEDS TO BACK E. ZOB THEN ASKED IF I WOULD TAKE ACFT X AT FL370 WADOF. I SAID IF ZDC (W42) WOULD APPROVE IT I WOULD ACCEPT THE FLT AT FL370 (BY GIVING ACFT X DIRECT PSK THE ACFT FLIES 2 MI INTO MY AIRSPACE INTO ZDC. ACFT X DATA BLOCK REAPPEARED WITH FL370 IN THE DATA BLOCK (SHOWING FL380 DSNDING TO FL370). WE THEN TOOK HDOF ON ACFT Y ON J149 WBOUND AT FL380. AS OF THIS TIME ACFT X HAD NOT STARTED A DSCNT. WHEN ACFT WERE 15 NM APART CONVERGING AT 90 DEGS L ZOB CALLED AND SAID ACFT X WAS NORDO AND DID NOT GET THE DSCNT. AT THE SAME TIME ZID (W42) WAS CALLING EMER ON LANDLINES TO TELL US THEY HAD SHIPPED ACFT Y TO US AND ZOB SAID ACR X WAS NORDO. I THEN HUNG UP AND TRIED ACFT X TO SEE IF THE ACFT WAS ON OUR FREQ (NO LUCK). ACFT Y HAD JUST CHKED IN PRIOR TO THAT AND WAS THEN GIVEN A TA AND TOLD TO DSND. ACFT Y LEVELED AT FL370 WHEN ACFT X WAS APPROX 5.1 NM N OF HIM.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.