American Airlines delays persist as maintenance-tech glitch disrupts departures; United issues brief ground stop

Several American Airlines flights were delayed Wednesday as the carrier grappled with a technical issue affecting maintenance applications, the airline confirmed. The company said no flights had been canceled at this time and that teams are actively troubleshooting the problem, adding that agents are using alternative procedures to close out flights, which is contributing to the delays. The airline apologized to customers for the inconvenience and noted that the disruption is tied to a glitch impacting maintenance-related software used to finalize departures.

Passengers reacted to the disruption on social media, with some sharing their experiences on X. Fox News Channel political analyst Gianno Caldwell was among those posting about the situation, asking, “What is going on with @AmericanAir.” The post underscored the uncertainty travelers faced as the maintenance-system issue persisted and airline personnel worked to restore normal operations. The glitch comes as U.S. carriers have faced a string of technical hiccups that can ripple across schedules, especially during peak travel periods.

Late Tuesday into Wednesday, United Airlines flights were briefly grounded due to a technological issue. The airline requested that the Federal Aviation Administration pause departures at U.S. and Canadian airports, resulting in a short ground stop that lasted about an hour. The stoppage marked the second time in two months that United has temporarily halted all of its mainline flights as a precaution while systems were assessed and corrected. The FAA described ground stops as a process that requires aircraft to meet specific criteria to remain on the ground, and they can be triggered by issues at the airport, in the airspace, or with equipment. The agency noted that such actions are part of standard traffic-management procedures and can occur with little warning.

The events highlight ongoing challenges in airline operations that blend technology and logistics. While American and United described incidents tied to separate technological issues, the disruption underscores how deeply modern airline schedules depend on software systems to manage maintenance, departures, and gate operations. The airline statements and FAA guidance indicate a focus on safety and reliability, with officials emphasizing that ground stops and troubleshooting steps are designed to minimize risk and restore normal service as quickly as possible.

For travelers, the immediate takeaway remains practical: check flight status closely and be prepared for delays even if a carrier reports that no flights are canceled. Airlines typically offer rerouting options and rebooking when possible, and many carriers continue to crowdsource standby solutions to recover schedules. As the work to resolve the maintenance applications issue continues, industry observers will watch for any cascading effects on connections and downstream flights, particularly in hub markets where small delays can propagate across dozens of departures.