Is responsible for the charging of tRNA(Phe) with phenylalanine in mitochondrial translation. To a lesser extent, also catalyzes direct attachment of m-Tyr (an oxidized version of Phe) to tRNA(Phe), thereby opening the way for delivery of the misacylated tRNA to the ribosome and incorporation of ROS-damaged amino acid into proteins. ATP + L-phenylalanine + tRNA(Phe) = AMP + diphosphate + H(+) + L-phenylalanyl-tRNA(Phe) kcat is 2.8 min(-1), 2.0 min(-1) and 3.1 min(-1) with L-phenylalanine, L-tyrosine and m-tyrosine as substrate, respectively. Thus, the catalytic efficiency of the m-Tyr attachment is only 5-fold lower than that of the correct amino acid, while that of Tyr attachment is 1000-fold lower (PubMed:19549855). Monomer. The disease is caused by variants affecting the gene represented in this entry. The disease is caused by variants affecting the gene represented in this entry. Belongs to the class-II aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase family.