United Airlines Flight Delays Caused by Technology Glitch Affect Passengers Nationwide

The airline confirmed that over 700 flights were delayed due to a ground stop impacting major airports across the United States, but operations have since resumed.

In a recent incident, United Airlines passengers found themselves facing considerable delays as flights were briefly suspended across key U.S. airports due to a technology glitch. This ground stop affected major hubs including Chicago, Denver, Houston, San Francisco, and New Jersey, leaving many travelers stranded.

United Airlines announced around 10:00 PM EDT on Wednesday (02:00 GMT Thursday) that flights would resume, albeit with ongoing disruptions likely to persist. "The underlying technology issue has been resolved, and while we expect residual delays, our team is working to restore our normal operations," the airline said in a statement.

As of 9:00 PM EDT, over 700 United flights had been affected, according to FlightAware, a flight tracking service. Flights already airborne during the ground stop continued to their destinations without incident. However, United cautioned that regional flights could also encounter delays due to the backup caused by the disruptions.

Passengers reported challenges during this frustrating period. Jessica Jeffers, a traveler in Denver, described feeling "pretty rough" as she remained on a grounded plane for two hours awaiting a flight to Newark, New Jersey. Many others took to social media expressing their dissatisfaction with extended periods stuck on tarmacs with little information.

In light of the incident, CBS News reported that United Airlines is treating the situation as a preventable delay, offering to cover certain costs incurred by travelers due to the disruption. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy informed the public that the issue was not linked to the overall air traffic control system in the United States, ensuring no wider implications.