United Airlines Flights Grounded Due to Technology Glitch: Passenger Disruptions Persist

United Airlines faced turmoil as technology problems caused widespread flight disruptions, prompting a ground stop that affected over 700 flights. While the company worked to resolve the issue, many passengers reported lengthy delays and discomfort during their journeys.

United Airlines experienced significant operational disruptions as a "technology issue" prompted the airline to issue a ground stop on its mainline flights. Affected airports included major hubs such as Chicago, Denver, Houston, San Francisco, and New Jersey. The halt was implemented around 22:00 EDT Wednesday, with United informing passengers that it had resolved the underlying issue, yet residual delays were expected.

By 21:00 EDT, over 700 United flights had been delayed, according to data from flight tracking service FlightAware. Passengers who were already airborne during the tech failure were able to land at their intended destinations. United Airlines did note, however, that regional flights might still face delays due to ground stop-induced traffic congestion.

One traveler, Jessica Jeffers, recounted her experience to CNN, describing a two-hour wait on the tarmac in Denver as she attempted to reach Newark, New Jersey. "It's been pretty rough over here," she remarked, echoing sentiments shared by numerous others on social media who expressed frustration over extended wait times and lack of communication.

In response to the delays, the BBC's US affiliate CBS News reported that United Airlines was categorizing the incident as a preventable delay, indicating that they would cover certain costs for affected passengers. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed that he was briefed on the situation and noted that the issue was "unrelated to the broader air traffic control system" governing US air travel.