American Airlines Restarts Operations After Brief Technical Glitch

American Airlines has managed to resume its flight operations after a temporary halt due to a technical issue. The disruption occurred during peak travel on Christmas Eve, causing delays and inconveniences for many passengers.

American Airlines has confirmed the restoration of its flight services following a brief outage caused by a technical issue that lasted approximately one hour on Tuesday. The disruption impacted the essential systems required for the release of aircraft, prompting the airline to suspend operations nationwide during a peak travel time just before 13:00 GMT, as noted by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

The airline attributed the delay to a "vendor technology issue," assuring the public that it was an intense effort to mitigate further interruption. "We sincerely apologize to our customers for the inconvenience this morning," American Airlines expressed in an official statement. "It's all hands on deck as our team is diligently working to get customers where they need to be as fast as possible."

While most flights are gradually returning to their schedules, reports indicate that delays of up to two hours continue to be displayed on departure boards at major US airports. Real-time tracking website Flightradar24 has observed a resumption of departures from key travel hubs, indicating that recovery is underway.

Passengers reported various frustrations via social media, with some experiencing extended waits on the tarmac or at the gates due to the sudden system failure. A number of travelers were even instructed to disembark from their scheduled flights. In one instance captured on video and shared on X by a CBS reporter in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, a gate agent communicated the gradual recovery of the systems, announcing that boarding was being initiated for a flight to Philadelphia.

In July, American Airlines, along with other major carriers, faced significant operational challenges, grounding flights nationwide due to a communication failure linked to a global IT crisis. That incident was rooted in a problematic software update from cybersecurity firm Crowdstrike, which also disrupted banking and emergency services.