Airline cites technical issues for nationwide halt, affecting passengers’ holiday plans

American Airlines has caused major disruptions to Christmas Eve travel plans after grounding all flights across the United States due to a technical fault. The airline confirmed the issue, stating that it had led to an hour-long stoppage affecting both domestic and international journeys.

The airline assured passengers on X (formerly Twitter) that the safety of travellers remained its top priority, adding that efforts were underway to resolve the problem as swiftly as possible. “We’re currently experiencing a technical issue with all American Airlines flights. Once rectified, we will ensure you reach your destination safely,” the airline stated in response to one passenger’s query.

Although no specific timeline was given, American Airlines promised to resolve the issue quickly. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a nationwide ground stop order for American Airlines flights at the airline’s request, according to an advisory notice.

Passengers, many of whom were looking forward to spending the holidays with loved ones, took to social media to express their frustration with the delays. One passenger reported being asked to leave their plane at Pittsburgh International Airport. In response, the airline said, “We’re doing our best to get things back on track. Please accept our sincere apologies for any inconvenience this has caused.”