United Airlines Flight Departure Ground Stop Caused by Software Update

United Airlines said that a software update caused a flight departure ground stop on Friday, August 20, affecting hundreds of flights across the US and Canada. The ground stop lasted for about an hour and a half, from 6:30 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time, before it was lifted by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

The software update was related to the dispatch system, which is used to calculate the weight and balance of the aircraft, as well as the fuel and route planning. The update caused some errors and inconsistencies in the system, which prevented the dispatchers from sending the flight plans to the pilots. As a result, the flights could not depart until the issue was resolved.

United Airlines apologized for the inconvenience and said that it was working to fix the problem and resume normal operations as soon as possible. The airline also said that it was offering flexible travel options for customers who were affected by the ground stop, such as rebooking or refunding their tickets.

The ground stop was the latest in a series of disruptions that have affected the US aviation industry in recent months, due to various factors such as weather, staffing shortages, and technical glitches. The FAA has urged travelers to be patient and prepared for possible delays and cancellations.

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, msn.com, cnn.com, usatoday.com