Uncensored Reporting |
United Airlines encountered a significant disruption on Wednesday due to a problem with its weight and balance computer system, known as Unimatic. This system is crucial for ensuring the safe and operational loading of aircraft.
The outage began around 6 p.m. ET and lasted for several hours, causing United mainline flights to be held at their departure airports. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed their awareness of the disruption and offered support as United worked through the backlog. It's important to note that this issue was specific to United's operations and was not related to any cyberattack or broader air traffic control system.
During this time, United Airlines prioritized customer patience and actively communicated with affected travellers. Expenses such as meals and hotels were covered due to the delays caused by this technology outage. Ground stops were implemented at major hubs including Newark, San Francisco, Chicago, Denver, and Houston as a precaution.
One of the travellers affected was Johan Kotze, who was heading from Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport to the Indian Ocean island nation of Mauritius for vacation. The delays likely meant that Johan would miss connecting flights and have to rebook travel arrangements.
The outage was not linked to recent concerns about airline industry cybersecurity. In response to the disruptions, United Airlines apologized on social media and promised to cover hotel and other expenses incurred by travellers because of the delays. Approximately 35% of United Airlines' flights were delayed, and another 6% were canceled on Wednesday.
United Airlines is working diligently to resolve the outage as quickly as possible. Safety is their top priority, and they will work with customers to get them to their destinations. The affected system, Unimatic, houses flight information, calculates weight and balance, and tracks flight times. The issue was resolved late Wednesday, but some service disruptions continued into Thursday.
- The technology outage affecting United Airlines, specifically the weight and balance computer system called Unimatic, disrupted travel plans for many, such as Johan Kotze who was headed to the Indian Ocean island nation of Mauritius.
- The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) acknowledged the disruption and offered support, as this issue was not related to any cyberattack or broader air traffic control system.
- In the aftermath of the disruption, United Airlines issued apologies on social media, promising to cover hotel and other expenses incurred by travellers due to the delays, and assuring that safety is their top priority in resolving the issue and getting passengers to their destinations.
