If you were all set to jet off on a United Airlines flight recently, you might have found yourself in a rather unexpected and somewhat inconvenient holding pattern. The airline found itself in the midst of a nationwide ground stop, courtesy of what they’ve referred to as a “computer issue.” As ABC News was the first to report, United Airlines made the decision to temporarily halt its flights across the entire country. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that United Airlines had reached out to request this widespread pause in their departures.
However, the good news is that this unplanned hiatus didn’t last too long. At precisely 1:45 PM ET, United Airlines gave the green light to lift the ground stop, and their operations began revving up once more.
So, what caused all this commotion in the first place? United Airlines pointed the finger squarely at a software update, stating that it had triggered a significant slowdown in their technology systems. Interestingly, despite the temporary grounding, flights that were already in the air continued on their paths without any hitches. It was only the departures that were briefly affected.
Once the issue was ironed out, United Airlines swiftly got back into the flying game, and they didn’t forget about those who had their travel plans disrupted by the unexpected hiatus. They started working to assist affected customers in getting back on track.
It’s worth noting that this isn’t the first time United Airlines has faced such a situation. Just last week in the UK, a hiccup in air traffic control caused a significant number of flight cancellations and delays. A fifth of UK departures and 27 percent of incoming flights had to deal with this snag, leaving passengers feeling a bit like they were stuck in a real-life game of “Flight Delays and Ground Stops.”
In any case, as of September 5, 2023, at 4:50 PM ET, United Airlines clarified that the reason for the ground stop was indeed a software update gone awry, and they’ve successfully gotten back to business as usual. Travelers, here’s hoping your future flights are free from any unexpected technological turbulence!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about United Airlines software update glitch
What caused the nationwide ground stop for United Airlines?
United Airlines experienced a nationwide ground stop due to a software update glitch that resulted in a widespread slowdown in their technology systems.
Were airborne flights affected during the ground stop?
No, flights that were already in the air continued to their destinations without any issues. The ground stop primarily affected departures.
How long did the ground stop last?
The ground stop lasted for approximately an hour before United Airlines resumed operations.
Did United Airlines assist affected customers?
Yes, the airline promptly started working with customers whose travel plans were disrupted by the grounding.
Is this the first time United Airlines has faced such an issue?
No, United Airlines had a similar issue in the UK just last week, where an air traffic control glitch led to flight cancellations and delays.
More about United Airlines software update glitch
- ABC News report on United Airlines ground stop
- Federal Aviation Administration statement on the ground stop
- United Airlines official statement
- Previous incident of air traffic control glitch in the UK
2 comments
wow, united airlines in a real tech m3ss with that update, huh? flights stoppin’ all ovr, smh.
i was on 1 of dose flights, tbh, n it was a pain. glad dey fix it tho!