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American Airlines grounded all domestic flights early on Christmas Eve, citing technical issues as the root cause of the disruptions. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a ground stop for the airline, impacting thousands of passengers during one of the busiest travel days of the year.
The airline stated, "A technical issue is affecting American flights this morning. Our teams are working to resolve the issue as quickly as possible, and we apologize to our customers for the inconvenience." While no specific timeline for resolution was provided, the company emphasized safety as its top priority. An American Airlines representative on social media assured customers, "Once this is rectified, we'll have you safely on your way."
The incident evoked memories of Southwest Airlines' 2022 meltdown, which disrupted 16,900 flights and stranded over two million travelers. Although American Airlines has yet to disclose how many flights were affected, stranded passengers flooded social media platforms with frustration. One user at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport shared a video of a gate agent announcing that passengers and crew were unable to board planes.
Another traveler expressed dismay on X, posting, "Currently stuck on the tarmac. All flights for American Airlines are down in the U.S. No ETA. But more importantly, no snacks or drinks being handed out as a courtesy while we wait."
The technical glitch also led to delays in customer service. The airline encouraged passengers to contact them via direct message on social media to address ticketing and transfer concerns. However, the response time appeared sluggish, with numerous complaints about inadequate communication.
The FAA referred all inquiries to American Airlines, declining to provide further details. Industry analysts noted that such disruptions, while rare, can have significant financial implications for carriers. Shares of American Airlines dropped by 3.8% in pre-market trading, reflecting investor apprehension.
This grounding follows a series of recent challenges in the aviation industry, including a global tech outage linked to Microsoft's Azure cloud platform earlier this year. Experts stress that these incidents underscore the growing reliance on technology, which, while streamlining operations, also introduces vulnerabilities.
This story is developing, and updates will follow as more information becomes available.
