A significant system outage caused widespread delays and temporary ground stops across United Airlines’ network on Wednesday evening, severely disrupting operations and stranding thousands of passengers across major U.S. airports.
United Airlines confirmed that the technology issue, which began around 6:12 p.m. ET, has now been resolved. However, residual delays continued well into the night, affecting key hubs like Newark Airport, Chicago, Denver, Houston, and San Francisco. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) acknowledged the disruption and worked closely with United to manage the flight backlog.
Ground Stop Brings United Flights to a Halt
The united ground stop was issued at approximately 7:30 p.m. ET, effectively halting all United Airlines flights out of departure airports. As per FlightAware, nearly 31% of United flights were delayed, while 1% were canceled due to the outage. This United outage left passengers stuck on planes or waiting at gates with little communication or clarity.
Jessica Jeffers, a passenger stuck in Denver trying to reach Newark, told CNN: “I’ve been stuck for two hours on a plane, baking with almost no air conditioning. We had the option to deboard or wait, but no real direction.”
Meanwhile, her sister, flying from Nashville to Denver, experienced a two-hour delay and was eventually offered hotel accommodations and a rescheduled flight.
United Airlines Outage Not Cybersecurity Related
In response to rising concerns around aviation cybersecurity, United Airlines clarified that the United Airlines outage was not linked to any cyber threats or external breaches. “The underlying technology issue has been resolved,” a spokesperson said, “and while we expect residual delays, our team is working to restore normal operations.”
The FAA reiterated its involvement, stating, “Some delays may continue as they work through the recovery process. We remain in close contact with United.”
United Airlines Flight Status: What Travelers Should Know
As of Thursday morning, travelers are advised to check their United Airlines flight status online or through the official United app. The United system outage has created a backlog, and flight schedules are being adjusted in real-time.
Affected passengers are encouraged to use digital channels to rebook, request compensation, or inquire about refunds. While United Airlines grounded many flights temporarily, service is gradually returning to normal.
Newark Airport and Other Hubs Heavily Impacted
Newark Airport, one of United’s busiest hubs, experienced high passenger volume and congestion due to the United Airlines ground stop. Similar scenes were reported at Chicago O’Hare, Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental, and Denver International Airport.
Airport officials urged passengers to arrive early, stay updated via social media, and be patient as United Airlines flights resume normal operations.
A Tough Week for United Airlines
This incident adds to a challenging week for United Airlines, as the carrier faces scrutiny over its aging IT infrastructure and lack of system redundancy. Analysts warn that recurring tech issues may erode customer trust unless significant improvements are made.
Nonetheless, United has promised a thorough internal review of the incident and stated that steps are being taken to prevent similar disruptions in the future.
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