United Airlines experienced a major technological failure on Wednesday that led to the temporary suspension of flights at several key airports across the United States, causing confusion among passengers and widespread disruption of schedules.
The glitch originated in the system responsible for weight and balance calculations and the management of key flight data. As a precaution, the airline asked the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to stop departures from major hubs like Chicago, Denver, Newark, Houston, San Francisco, and others.
The issue began shortly after 6:00 p.m. ET and lasted for several hours. By 9:45 p.m. ET, around 31% of flights were delayed and 1% were canceled, according to FlightAware. Other reports indicated that up to 35% of operations were affected, with 6% ultimately canceled.
United Airlines issued public apologies and clarified that the incident was not caused by a cyberattack. The company announced the issue had been resolved, but warned of “residual delays” as operations normalized. It also committed to covering expenses such as lodging and meals for impacted travelers.
Passengers had a tough experience. Angela Jeffers, on a flight from Nashville to Denver, said she sat on the plane for two hours without air conditioning or clear information. Her sister in Denver faced similar uncertainty, unsure whether to remain on board or disembark.
Was this disruption caused by a cyberattack?
No. United Airlines and authorities confirmed the glitch was internal, linked to its Unimatic operations data system, and not the result of any cyberattack.
