United Airlines Resumes Flights After System Outage Grounds Fleet
United Airlines has resumed operations after a major technology issue forced a nationwide ground stop on August 6, delaying over 1,000 flights and canceling dozens more. The disruption stemmed from a failure in the airline’s weight and balance computer system, known as Unimatic. The airline clarified that the outage was not related to cybersecurity threats, though the root cause has not been disclosed.
The outage began around 6:12 p.m. ET and was resolved within a few hours. While operations have resumed, residual delays are expected as the airline works to recover from the backlog. “Our team is working to restore our normal operations,” a United spokesperson told CNN.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed the issue and has been coordinating with United to assist in addressing the backlog. Affected airports included major United hubs in Chicago, Denver, Newark, Houston, and San Francisco, according to the FAA’s system status alerts.
Passengers across the country reported delays and a lack of communication. One traveler from Nashville said the pilot informed them the flight couldn’t take off because of missing performance data. Another passenger stranded on a tarmac in Denver described sitting in a plane with minimal air conditioning for hours without clear updates.
The system failure disrupted plans for many, including travelers with international connections. Johan Kotze, who was heading to Mauritius from New Orleans, said the delay would likely cause him to miss multiple connecting flights, forcing him to rebook accommodations and transportation.
United Airlines has offered rebooking options and hotel accommodations for impacted passengers.
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