A major technical issue disrupted United Airlines operations across the United States on Wednesday night. As a result, many flights were grounded, and delays spread nationwide.

Outage Begins Around 8 PM

The disruption started around 8 PM local time. United Airlines confirmed a “technology issue” as the reason behind the problem. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) quickly responded by ordering a nationwide ground stop for United flights, Reuters reported.

Flights Held at Airports

United Airlines said, “We are holding United mainline flights at their departure airports.” The airline also warned passengers to expect delays throughout the evening. United added, “Safety is our top priority, and we’re working to get customers to their destinations.”

Major Hubs Affected

The FAA clarified that the ground stop only affected United Airlines flights. Major airports such as Denver, Newark, Houston, and Chicago experienced the most disruptions.

Passengers Express Frustration

Passengers stuck at airports took to social media to share their anger and disappointment. Screens showed delays and cancellations, while operations came to a halt in several major cities.

Other Airlines Have Faced Similar Issues

This is not the first time an airline has faced a tech-related disruption. Just last month, Alaska Airlines had to ground all its flights due to an IT problem. Earlier this year, air traffic control failures near Newark caused major delays.

Aviation System Under Pressure

The US aviation system has faced repeated issues in recent months. In January, a mid-air collision near Washington’s Reagan National Airport between a military helicopter and a passenger jet left dozens dead. Incidents like these have raised serious concerns about the reliability of the country's air travel systems.