A technical disruption briefly halted American Airlines flights across the United States early Tuesday, creating potential complications for holiday travelers, ABC News reported.
The Federal Aviation Administration implemented a ground stop for all American Airlines flights after the carrier reported system-wide technical problems. The disruption lasted approximately one hour before flights resumed boarding, and the FAA lifted the nationwide halt.
"A vendor technology issue briefly affected flights this morning," American Airlines said in a statement. "That issue has been resolved, and flights have resumed."
The airline addressed customers directly about the incident. "We sincerely apologize to our customers for the inconvenience this morning," the statement said. "It's all hands on deck as our team is working diligently to get customers where they need to go as quickly as possible."
Early Tuesday, American Airlines posted on X about "a technical issue with all American Airlines flights," noting that passenger safety remained their primary concern. The carrier responded to passenger inquiries on social media, indicating they could not provide specific timeframes for resolution.
The disruption comes during what is expected to be a record-breaking holiday travel season. The Transportation Security Administration anticipates screening nearly 40 million travelers between Dec. 19 and Jan. 2 – representing a 6.2% increase from 2023.
