Technical Glitch Halts All American Airlines Flights on Christmas Eve, Disrupting Holiday Travel
A major technical malfunction forced American Airlines to ground all domestic flights early Christmas Eve morning, disrupting holiday travel plans for thousands of passengers across the United States, according to Federal Aviation Administration officials.
The nationwide ground stop, implemented shortly after 6:30 a.m. EST, affected all American Airlines domestic operations, causing cascading delays during one of the year’s busiest travel periods. The airline cited an unspecified “technical issue” as the root cause.
“We are aware of a technical issue impacting our operations and are working diligently to resolve it as quickly as possible,” American Airlines said in a statement. The company emphasized that “safety remained their top priority” throughout the incident.
The system-wide disruption lasted approximately two hours, with normal operations resuming by mid-morning. However, the ripple effects continued to impact flights throughout the network, leading to significant delays and potential cancellations.
The timing couldn’t have been worse for holiday travelers, as Christmas Eve traditionally marks one of the peak days for air travel. The disruption affected millions of passengers who had planned to reach their destinations before Christmas Day.
Passengers are advised to check their flight status directly with American Airlines and allow extra time for potential delays as the airline works to normalize its schedule.
–Metro Voice and News Services with Luke
