American Airlines was forced to ground all of its flights in the US on one of the busiest Christmas travel days.
The airline’s fleet was briefly grounded across the US after a technical issue hit its system and operations, leaving passengers in the dark over the fate of their journeys and connecting flights.
The US Federal Aviation Administration said there was a ‘nationwide groundstop for American Airlines,’ the AP news agency reports.
American Airlines said it was caused by a technical issue and it was working to resolve it.
The meltdown affected its operations while the airline’s website appeared to be working.
Now the ground stop has been cancelled, according to Flightradar24, but it will take some time for flights to resume to normal.
American Airlines said in a statement: ‘We’re currently experiencing a technical issue with all American Airlines flights.
‘Your safety is our utmost priority, once this is rectified, we’ll have you safely on your way to your destination.
‘Our team is working to get this rectified so that you can be safely on your way to your family. Your continued patience is appreciated.’
At New York John F. Kennedy Airport, upcoming American Airlines flights appeared listed with their scheduled estimated departure time.
Frustrated passengers trying to travel across the US took to social media to vent their anger and concerns over connecting flights.
One passenger asked the airline to ‘tell us whether we should go home or not. Please don’t make us wait in the airport for hours.’
Another one said his plane was already moving and about to take off when it was required to return to the gate and passengers got off.
A passenger on his honeymoon said: ‘What does this mean for connecting flights? Will flights get shifted to the right. It’s our honeymoon. This is a horrific inconvenience last minute.’
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