FAA Issues Alert on Potential Delays Following United Airlines Tech Glitch

Over 1,000 flights faced delays, with hundreds more being canceled after a technical glitch at United Airlines disrupted mainline operations at key hubs across the United States.

On August 7, 2025, the airline confirmed that its systems experienced a “technology issue” on the evening of August 6, and have since returned to normal operation.

“We are collaborating with customers to ensure they reach their destinations,” United stated. “The technology problem has been resolved, but we anticipate some residual delays as our team works to normalize operations.”

The airline clarified that this issue was not tied to cybersecurity concerns but stemmed from a malfunction within its weight and balance computer system.

In another statement on X, U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Sean Duffy noted that the situation “was specific to United’s operations and unrelated to the overall air traffic control system.”

“I’ve received updates from United CEO Scott Kirby regarding the internal tech outage,” Duffy stated. “The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is maintaining communication with their operational team, and we are providing full support to help alleviate the flight backlog.”

FAA Issues Warnings About Potential Delays

On August 7, 2025, the FAA acknowledged being “aware” of the technology issue at United and cautioned that “some delays may persist as they navigate the recovery process.”

As of that day, United had canceled 113 flights and delayed 105, based on data gathered from the real-time flight tracking platform FlightAware. On August 6, the airline had already delayed 1,086 flights and canceled 201.

The disruptions impacted multiple key United hub airports, including Denver International Airport (DEN), Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), O’Hare International Airport (ORD), and San Francisco International Airport (SFO).

Denver emerged as the most affected airport, reporting 303 delays and 38 cancellations, while Newark also faced significant disruptions with 136 delays and 19 cancellations.

Passengers expressed their frustration on X, reporting waiting on the tarmac for over two hours due to the outage without clear communication on when flights would resume.

Addressing the concerns of stranded travelers, United remarked, “We recognize that this disruption has led to frustrations during your travel and appreciate your continued patience.”