A massive technology failure forced United Airlines to halt all mainline departures across the United States late Wednesday, triggering widespread travel chaos.
The outage, traced to issues in the airline’s dispatch and fueling systems, led to the cancellation of more than 800 flights and delayed hundreds more.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that United requested a nationwide ground stop while it worked to resolve the issue. Airports like Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental, a major United hub, saw long queues and frustrated passengers.
International routes were hit hard, with flights from Newark and Chicago to Delhi and Mumbai delayed by several hours. Connections to Frankfurt, London, São Paulo, and Panama City also faced cascading disruptions.
Passengers voiced their concerns, with many stranded and uncertain about rebooking options. “This visit home was my little reset, and now, it is turning into an unplanned extension,” said Ishya, a New York-based professional stuck in Houston.
United Airlines has yet to confirm when full operations will resume, but warned of continued delays as systems are restored.
