Unspecified technical problems halted flights during the busy holiday travel season, leaving thousands stranded nationwide.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
American Airlines has resumed flights after a nationwide halt on Christmas Eve due to technical issues that disrupted operations during one of the busiest travel periods of the year. The ground stop, which lasted approximately 90 minutes, was implemented at the airline’s request to address the problem.
“We’re currently experiencing a technical issue with all American Airlines flights. Your safety is our utmost priority,” the airline said in an X post around 6:30 a.m. EST. The post was a response to a passenger inquiring about delays while seated on a plane bound for Miami.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed the halt, stating in an email to The Epoch Times: “American Airlines reported a technical issue this morning and requested a nationwide ground stop. The ground stop has now been lifted.”
Frustrated Passengers and Speculation
Passengers took to social media to express their frustrations, with some suggesting a possible cyberattack as the cause of the disruption. “Back to the gate and now deplaning at BNA. Cyber attack is my guess. Heck of a way to start Christmas,” wrote one user, Mary Scott Hunter, in an X post. American Airlines responded that it was “working to get this rectified.”
Other travelers reported being delayed mid-flight or returned to the gate for deplaning. “Captain had pushed off and we were preparing for takeoff… But the AA update required us to return to the gate,” wrote another passenger on X.
In a subsequent statement, American Airlines clarified: “A vendor technology issue briefly affected flights this morning. That issue has been resolved, and flights have resumed. We sincerely apologize to our customers for the inconvenience.” The airline noted that the issue impacted systems critical to releasing flights.
Record Holiday Travel Compounded by Delays
The grounding occurred amid a surge in holiday travel, with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) reporting over 2.8 million passengers on December 22, a 43% increase compared to the same day in 2023. The AAA projected that approximately 120 million Americans would travel 50 miles or more this holiday season, surpassing pre-pandemic levels.
“Travelers should expect the roads, airports, and cruise terminals to be more crowded than normal,” said Debbie Haas, vice president of Travel for AAA. She advised finalizing travel plans, leaving extra time, and considering travel insurance for unexpected delays.
Moving Forward
As flights resume, American Airlines is deploying additional resources to minimize delays and rebook passengers impacted by the disruption. “It’s all hands on deck as our team is working diligently to get customers where they need to go as quickly as possible,” the airline said.
With holiday travel at an all-time high, the incident underscores the importance of robust technological systems to handle increased passenger volumes and ensure smooth operations during critical travel periods.
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