Airline service resumes by United Airlines following technological issue, with further schedule interruptions forecasted
On Wednesday night, United Airlines experienced a nationwide flight grounding due to an issue with their weight and balance computer system. This system outage led to the airline holding mainline flights at departure airports as a safety precaution.
The outage began shortly after 6 p.m. ET and lasted for a few hours before being resolved. Over 1,000 flights were delayed, and more than 40 were canceled nationwide due to the issue. The problem was not related to cyberattacks or broader air traffic control issues but was specific to United's internal operations.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) was aware of the situation and offered support to United Airlines as they worked through the backlog. United treated the disruption as a "controllable" delay, covering customer expenses such as hotels and meals when applicable.
Ground stops were requested at major United hubs like Newark, San Francisco, Chicago, Denver, and Houston. However, the ground stop did not affect United Express flights.
It's worth noting that the airline's request for ground stops was a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of their operations. The FAA emphasized that the tech issue affecting United Airlines was unrelated to the broader air traffic control system.
United Airlines has since resolved the underlying technology issue. The airline is expecting residual delays but is working to restore normal operations. This story is still developing, and we will provide updates as more information becomes available.
References:
[1] United Airlines Press Release, 2022. [2] U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy Statement, 2022. [3] United Airlines Customer Service Announcement, 2022. [4] FlightAware Flight Status, 2022.
- The unexpected delay and cancellations in United Airlines flights have potentially impacted travel plans for millions, causing inconvenience in lifestyle and finance.
- The aviation industry, already grappling with the aftermath of the pandemic, now faces another hurdle with this internal tech issue at United Airlines affecting transportation.
- United Airlines, while working diligently to restore normal operations, has offered support to affected customers, including compensating for hotel stays and meals, indicating a commitment to maintain a high standard in service even during challenging times.
