A massive technology outage at United Airlines triggered a nationwide ground stop, canceling over 800 flights and delaying hundreds more across the U.S. and global routes by late Wednesday. The disruption, caused by failures in dispatch and fueling systems, left passengers stranded and airports overwhelmed.

At Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport, a major United hub, terminals were packed with frustrated travelers. “This was my reset trip, now it’s an unplanned extension,” said Ishya, a New York professional stuck at the airport. Michael Tran, a software engineer headed to Tokyo, added, “I’m stuck with no answers, and the staff is overwhelmed.”

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed United’s request to pause all mainline departures, stating it was closely monitoring the situation. The outage rippled through United’s global network, delaying flights from Newark and Chicago to Delhi, Mumbai, Frankfurt, London, Sao Paulo, and Panama City, disrupting connections worldwide.

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United advised passengers to check flight statuses via its app or website and offered rebooking or travel waivers. “We apologize for the disruption and thank customers for their patience,” the airline posted on social media.

Although the FAA lifted ground stops at hubs like Houston by Wednesday evening, experts warned that delays could linger into Thursday, particularly for long-haul and international flights with tight connections. Travelers were urged to confirm onward flights as disruptions continued to impact United’s network.

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