Key facts
- The FAA issued a nationwide ground stop for American Airlines flights.
- The ground stop was due to an IT outage affecting the airline's systems.
- American Airlines' app and website were reportedly down.
- Thousands of users reported issues with the American Airlines platform.
- The FAA notice means flights cannot depart until the issue is resolved.
The Federal Aviation Administration issued a nationwide ground stop for American Airlines flights on Tuesday evening due to an IT outage. The advisory from the FAA meant that all American Airlines aircraft not currently airborne were being held, impacting travelers across the United States and globally.
Reports of the outage began surfacing on social media and Down Detector, a platform that tracks outages based on user reports. Users complained that the airline's app and website were not functioning. As many as 15,000 people reportedly flagged issues with the American Airlines platform.
American Airlines acknowledged the issue, stating on social media that its IT team was working to restore the system as quickly as possible. The ground stop, issued around 6:30 p.m. ET, signifies that departures are halted until the technical problem is resolved. This situation occurred as many U.S. East Coast airports were already experiencing significant delays and ground stops due to thunderstorms.