United Resumes Flights After Brief Ground Stop, Connectivity Issue

(CHICAGO, DENVER, NEWARK, HOUSTON, SAN FRANCISCO) United Airlines briefly halted all departures across the United States 🇺🇸 and Canada 🇨🇦 late Tuesday after a reported technology/connectivity issue disrupted operations, prompting a nationwide ground stop at the carrier’s request.

The pause began just before midnight Central Time on September 23, 2025, and lasted about 30 minutes, according to the airline and the Federal Aviation Administration. Flights soon resumed and United said service “has now returned to normal operations,” though some delays and a small number of cancellations followed.

Scope of the Ground Stop

• The FAA confirmed it issued the ground stop affecting United flights in and out of major hubs, including Chicago O’Hare, Denver, Newark Liberty, Houston Bush Intercontinental, and San Francisco.
• The carrier did not detail the exact nature of the technology failure, and the FAA offered no further explanation about the underlying cause.
• This is the second such incident in less than two months, after a similar technology-related ground stop in early August.

Passenger Experience and Immediate Aftermath

Passengers reported varied experiences during the disruption:

• Some were told to return to the gate and deplane.
• Others remained onboard, waiting for clearance to push back.

United has not yet announced compensation or specific rebooking measures. The airline urged customers to monitor its alerts and said any remaining delays would be addressed as crews and aircraft reposition.

For current flight status, United directs travelers to its official Travel Alerts page: https://www.united.com/en/us/fly/travel/notices.html.

Even short system outages can trigger hours of downstream congestion as crews time out and aircraft rotate late through hub networks.

This ripple effect matters for travelers with tight connections, immigration appointments, and work or study deadlines. A late-night ground stop can:
– Push arrivals past airport curfews
– Reduce available overnight rebooking options
– Create missed connections for early-morning international departures

Immigration, Visa Appointments, and Documentation

Travelers connecting to embassies or consulates for morning visa interviews faced particular stress. If you missed a nonimmigrant visa appointment because your United flight arrived late:

• Retain proof of delay from the airline, such as:
  • a delay notification in the app
  • a gate agent’s note
  • an online flight status record

Consular sections often allow rescheduling when delays are documented. Your DS-160—the online nonimmigrant visa application—remains valid for your rescheduled interview in most cases; details are available on the U.S. Department of State’s official page for the DS-160: Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/forms/ds-160-online-nonimmigrant-visa-application.html.

Check ESTA and Transit Visa Rules

• Visa Waiver travelers should confirm their ESTA remains approved and valid for their new departure time at the official ESTA application site: https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/.
• If your connection to a third country was disrupted, verify whether the new itinerary requires a transit visa, since rules vary by country and airline.

Students, Workers, and Exchange Visitors

If delays may push you past program start or report-by deadlines:

• Contact your school’s Designated School Official (DSO) or your employer’s HR immediately.
• DSOs and HR teams can often issue updated reporting guidance when travel shifts unexpectedly due to airline technology/connectivity issues.
• Carry digital and paper copies of travel documents (I-20, DS-2019) to help airline agents and border officers verify status if routing changes.

Advance Parole and Reentry

• If you rely on Advance Parole, ensure the document stays valid through any revised departure/return dates.
• Official guidance for applying or replacing Advance Parole is on USCIS: Form I-131, Application for Travel Document: https://www.uscis.gov/i-131.
• For significant delays, consult your immigration attorney or qualified legal service provider.

Operational Effects and Airport Guidance

Even after flights resume, crews and aircraft may be out of position. Expect rolling delays, especially at major hubs (Chicago, Denver, Newark, Houston, San Francisco).

What to do at the airport:

1. Ask a gate agent to rebook you to protect international connections.
2. For families, elderly passengers, or minors, request assistance if rebooking stretches into late-night or early-morning hours.
3. Keep receipts for reasonable expenses (hotels, meals) if overnight accommodations become necessary.
4. If airline-issued delay proof is not automatic, ask a gate agent for a written delay statement.

United typically rebooks travelers on the next available flight and may offer hotel or meal support when delays extend overnight, depending on cause and local policies. Because the carrier has not yet outlined compensation specifics for this incident, preserve all documentation.

For real-time air traffic advisories, consult the FAA’s Air Traffic Control System Command Center Advisories: https://www.fly.faa.gov/adv/advAdvisories.jsp.

If You Missed a Consular Appointment

• Follow rescheduling instructions on your local embassy or consulate website.
• Keep the following documents:
  • DS-160 confirmation page
  • MRV fee receipt
  • Employer or school letters explaining travel purpose
  • Airline-issued delay proof or a gate agent’s written statement

These records help consular staff verify the missed appointment was outside your control.

Confirm CBP I-94 and Admission Records

International travelers arriving later than planned should:
– Confirm their I-94 admission record after entry to the United States.
– If rebooking changed your class of admission or departure city, review your electronic I-94 on the CBP site and keep boarding passes until the record is confirmed.

Official Statements and What’s Next

United emphasized the outage was short and service has normalized. The company acknowledged the event occurred “shortly before midnight Central time” and said systems were restored within roughly half an hour. The FAA declined to release additional technical details.

Given the earlier outage in August, consumer groups will likely press for clarity on how United is safeguarding critical systems to prevent another technology/connectivity-related ground stop.

Practical Advice and Key Takeaways

• Build extra time into tight connections, especially when moving between domestic and international legs.
• Keep digital copies of immigration documents and airline confirmations.
• Use the airline’s tools to track changes and active advisories: https://www.united.com/en/us/fly/travel/notices.html.
• If your immigration plans are time-sensitive, contact your attorney or accredited representative before changing routes or dates.

Airline technology outages are uncommon, but even a brief ground stop can affect interviews, start dates, and lawful travel windows. Staying informed through official airline channels and government sites, and keeping paperwork organized, reduces the risk that a short disruption becomes a long-term problem for your case.