United Airlines tech issue that impacted more than 1,000 flights resolved, residual delays expected
Share this @internewscast.com

A disruption to a system housing United Airlines’ flight information that caused more than 1,000 delays has been resolved, but delays continued into Thursday.

The impacted system, called Unimatic, houses flight information that is fed to other systems including those that calculate weight and balance and track flight times, according to United. It’s not clear what caused the problem, which was resolved late Wednesday. While residual delays were expected, United said its team was working to restore normal operations.

About 35% of all the airline’s flights were delayed and another 7% were canceled Wednesday, according to FlightAware, a website that tracks flight disruptions. By midmorning Thursday, 5% of United flights for the day were delayed and 4% were canceled. FlightAware reported 43 cancellations at Chicago O’Hare by Thursday morning, including 42 United flights.

An alert on the Federal Aviation Administration website Wednesday said all United flights destined for Chicago were halted at their departing airports. Flights to United hubs at Denver, Newark, Houston, and San Francisco airports also were affected.

The airline’s travel alert page noted that a technology disruption might impact flights to or from several U.S. airports from Thursday to Sunday, including Denver, Newark, Washington, Houston, New York, Los Angeles, Orlando, Chicago, San Francisco, Honolulu, and Guam, and some in Europe, such as London, Frankfurt, and Munich.

“Safety is our top priority, and we’ll work with our customers to get them to their destinations,” an emailed statement from the Chicago-based airline said.

The system outage, as the company described it, lasted several hours, the statement said. It wasn’t related to recent concerns about airline industry cybersecurity. United said it was treating it as a controllable delay, meaning it paid customer expenses such as hotels when applicable.

In an interview, United Airlines passenger Benjamin Fuentes, who flew from Boston to Houston, told KTRK-TV that they were told that they would be waiting for a while after the plane landed.

“The first hour, people were already standing up and just walking around the cabin because there was nothing to do,” he said. “I got on Netflix.”

After about an hour, they were told that the system was down nationwide, he said. Eventually, they learned that they found a gate, but it took another 45 minutes before they got there, he said.

The FAA said in a statement Thursday that it was aware of the disruption to United operations, noting that delays may continue as the airline recovers.

“We’ve offered full support to help address their flight backlog and remain in close contact with United,” the FAA said.

United Airlines apologized on social media and said in some cases it would pay for hotel and other expenses incurred by travelers because of the delays.

“Hey there, we apologize for the travel disruption today,” the airline told a customer on the social platform X. “Our teams are working to resolve the outage as quickly as possible. Thank you for your patience.”

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
Fernandina Beach rejects ban on downtown paid parking

Fernandina Beach Decides Against Prohibiting Paid Parking Downtown

As discussions continue around the paid parking plan, the commissioners have decided…
King David hotel kicked a woman out of a main suite — JD Vance wanted it

King David Hotel Evicts Woman from Main Suite to Accommodate JD Vance

Veep’s Kingly Mideast move A well-connected acquaintance is currently in Jerusalem, mingling…
'21st Century Digital Watergate': Another GOP Senator’s Phone Records Were Targeted by Biden’s DOJ

Biden’s DOJ Under Fire: Allegations of Targeting GOP Senator’s Phone Records in ‘Digital Watergate’ Scandal

Senator Ted Cruz of Texas has reportedly had his phone records subpoenaed…
Family fights for father's release from ICE custody after Crestwood arrest, details conditions at Broadview facility

Family Battles for Father’s Freedom: Inside the Harrowing Conditions at Broadview ICE Facility After Crestwood Arrest

CHICAGO (WLS) — Mariana Cabrera recounted the tense hours her family endured,…
SJSO weighs in on Meta's new safety features for teen accounts

St. Johns Sheriff’s Office Reviews Meta’s Enhanced Safety Tools for Teens

Understanding the latest enhancements to parental controls on teen accounts is crucial,…
Convicted felon federally charged after threatening Atlanta airport while armed with AR-15 rifle

Armed Felon Faces Federal Charges After Threatening Atlanta Airport with AR-15: A Chilling Security Breach

A Georgia resident is facing federal charges after allegedly threatening to “shoot…
Putnam man arrested for threats toward neighbor

Putnam Resident Arrested for Alleged Threats Against Neighbor: Community Safety Concerns Rise

A man has been accused of threatening a neighbor and her family…
Mickey Mouse surprises L.A. kids and teaches them the "Hot Dog!" dance from the 'Mickey Mouse Clubhouse+'

Mickey Mouse Delights L.A. Kids with a Surprise “Hot Dog!” Dance Lesson

LOS ANGELES — Amid joyful cheers and energetic music, Mickey Mouse made…
Illegal immigrants arrested after woman found shot to death in Texas woods, 1 wanted by Mexican feds: police

Texas Authorities Apprehend Suspected Illegal Immigrants in Connection with Fatal Shooting; One Suspect Sought by Mexican Authorities

Authorities have apprehended two Mexican nationals in Texas, linking them to the…
US Marshal, illegal alien shot in Los Angeles immigration operation

US Marshal and Undocumented Immigrant Injured During Los Angeles Immigration Enforcement Operation

In Los Angeles on Tuesday, a U.S. Marshal and an undocumented immigrant…
FWC investigating after finding crocodile with spear in the back of its head

Florida Wildlife Commission Probes Disturbing Crocodile Spearing Incident in State’s Waters

Efforts by Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) officers and experts…
Texas couple arrested after body of special needs son, 26, discovered buried in backyard

Texas Couple Detained Following Discovery of Their 26-Year-Old Special Needs Son’s Burial in Backyard

A couple from Texas has been taken into custody following the discovery…