American Airlines halts flights, raising holiday travel concerns
Sky News reports that on Tuesday, American Airlines briefly halted all of its flights in the U.S. due to a technical issue. Shortly afterward, the planes were back in the air, but even a brief pause can lead to problems, such as delays.
American Airlines briefly grounded all flights in the U.S. on Tuesday morning due to an unspecified technical issue, reports Sky News. According to the service, passengers on social media reported that their flights were stuck on the runway at various airports and were sent back to the gate.
The AP agency explains that the carrier reported a technical failure that affected its entire system. "Our team is currently working to rectify this. Your continued patience is appreciated," the airline stated concisely on social media.
ABC News adds that flights resumed after about an hour. However, Sky News assesses that there's another problem—the possibility of disruptions in scheduled takeoffs and landings, as many flights now have to make up for the delays. CNN highlights that the days leading up to Christmas are among the busiest times of the year for air traffic.
American Airlines operates thousands of flights daily to over 350 destinations in more than 60 countries.
