Grounded Again: United Airlines Halts US and Canada Flights for Second Time in 2 Months

In a shocking turn of events, United Airlines briefly halted all departures across the United States and Canada on September 24, 2025, marking the second technology-related ground stop for the airline in less than two months. The pause, which lasted approximately 30 minutes, was initiated due to a “brief connectivity issue” affecting the airline’s core systems.

The Incident

According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), United Airlines requested a ground stop at 1:00 a.m. ET, which was lifted at 1:30 a.m. ET. The FAA listed the cause as “COMPANY REQUEST / TECHNOLOGY,” indicating that United’s internal systems were the reason behind the halt. Flight Aware data revealed that at least 42 flights were delayed, and 4 were cancelled during this period, with Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) being the most affected.

Impact on Travelers

The disruption caused significant inconvenience to passengers, particularly those with tight connections or red-eye services. United teams worked diligently to rebook customers, swap equipment, and reposition crews to minimise the impact. Passengers experienced delays ranging from minutes to an hour, with some facing cancellations due to crew duty-time limits and aircraft positioning issues.

System Resilience and Industry Context

This incident raises concerns about airline technology resilience, particularly with the increasing reliance on complex networks linking crew scheduling, flight planning, and customer notifications. Industry experts emphasise the importance of redundancy, testing, and communication in preventing short outages from becoming day-long disruptions. United’s quick recovery limited downstream disruption, but the recurrence of such incidents highlights the need for robust systems.

Practical Tips for Travellers

To navigate such disruptions, travellers can take the following steps ¹:

• Use Airline Apps: Check flight status and rebooking options on the airline’s app or website before contacting support.
• Keep Documentation: Save boarding passes and delay notices for downstream appointment rescheduling.
• Allow Extra Time: Build buffer time around critical connections, visa interviews, or scheduled border crossings.
• Stay Informed: Monitor the FAA’s advisory page and United’s travel alerts for real-time updates.

Recent Incidents and Industry Trends

This is not the first time United Airlines has faced technical issues. In August 2025, the airline experienced a similar incident, and in September, another technical glitch caused widespread delays. The aviation industry has witnessed several high-profile technical issues, including Southwest Airlines’ 2022 holiday season debacle, which resulted in over 15,000 cancelled flights.

Conclusion

United Airlines’ brief grounding of all US and Canadian flights highlights the importance of robust technology systems in the aviation industry. While the airline’s quick response mitigated the impact, passengers must remain vigilant and prepared for potential disruptions. By understanding the causes of such incidents and taking proactive steps, travellers can minimise the impact of technical issues on their journeys.

Tags: United Airlines, flight grounding, technology issue, FAA, Flight Aware, airline technology resilience, travel tips.

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• All United Flights Briefly Grounded—What to Know
• United Airlines Briefly Grounds US, Canada Flights After System Failure