Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

United Computers Crash, Strand Thousands

Airline blames 'network connectivity'

By the Associated Press

Posted Jun 18, 2011 6:05 AM CDT

(AP) – United Airlines said Saturday that a computer glitch that grounded flights nationwide and left some passengers stranded overnight had been fixed. The airline blamed the problem on "a network connectivity issue" and said it was in the process of resuming normal operations. But the airline also indicated passengers may experience some delays for the rest of the weekend.

"While we will be experiencing some residual effect on our flight operations throughout the weekend, United is committed to restoring normal operations as soon as possible," said a rep. The outage started around 7:15pm CDT yesterday and lasted for about five hours. As a result, long lines formed at airports in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Denver, and Chicago. Some passengers ended up spending the night at airports or found hotel rooms where they were stranded. An LAX spokeswoman said the outage affected about 2,500 people at that airport alone.

[Images (13)]

[Quotes (2)]

United Airlines passenger Hazel Rimler, left, waits at the ticket counter of Washington Dulles International Airport in Chantilly, Va., Saturday, June 18, 2011. (Luis Alvarez)

A United Airlines stranded passenger sleeps in Terminal 1 at O'Hare International Airport Saturday, June 18, 2011 in Chicago. (Charles Rex Arbogast)

Stranded United Airline passengers wait at the United Airlines ticket counter at Denver International Airport Friday, June 17, 2011, in Denver, Colo. (Rick Bowmer)

Stranded United Airlines passengers sleep on cots in Terminal 2 at O'Hare International Airport early Saturday, June 18, 2011 in Chicago. (Charles Rex Arbogast)

United Airlines passengers sleep at San Francisco International Airport early Saturday, June 18, 2011. Thousands were stranded Friday in airports across the country when United computers crashed. (Noah Berger)

A stranded United Airlines passenger sits with his bags in Terminal 1 at O'Hare International Airport early Saturday, June 18, 2011 in Chicago. (Charles Rex Arbogast)

Passengers wait at the United Airlines ticket counter at Los Angeles International Airport, Friday, June 17, 2011. Thousands were stranded in airports when United Airlines computers crashed. (Jason Redmond)

Darya Maltseva from Chicago, sits in the baggage claim area after she and her husband were stranded by a United Airlines at O'Hare International Airport Saturday, June 18, 2011 in Chicago. (Charles Rex Arbogast)

Stranded passengers spend the night at La Guardia Airport in New York early Saturday, June 18, 2011. (DAVID KARP)

A stranded United Airlines passenger sleeps in Terminal 1 at O'Hare International Airport Saturday, June 18, 2011 in Chicago. (Charles Rex Arbogast)

United Airlines passengers sleep at San Francisco International Airport early Saturday June 18, 2011, in San Francisco. (Noah Berger)

United Airlines planes line the tarmac at San Francisco International Airport shortly after midnight on Saturday, June 18, 2011. (Noah Berger)

United Airlines passengers crowd the United ticketing area because of canceled and delayed flights, Friday, June 17, 2011 at San Francisco International Airport. (George Nikitin)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

A hundred yards of kiosks, and every one of them closed. Workers were trying to answer questions. They have no ability to do anything manually. They can't check baggage. You can't get baggage. You are really stuck. - Ron Schaffer, stranded in Denver

These are the things you have to expect when you're on holiday. I'm missing a night of gambling. - Steve Cole, English traveler stranded en route to Las Vegas

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

CLICK BELOW TO VOTE

13%

25%

52%

To report an error on this story, notify our editors.

More Newser Stories

Airport Overnights Take Off as Hotel Vouchers Vanish

Hotel vouchers have been lost in transit

(NEWSER) - Stranded passengers are finding ways to settle in for the night at airport terminals as hotel vouchers become a thing of the past in the cash-strapped airline business, the New York Times reports. Frequent fliers advise terminal sleepers to bring something soft to sleep on and to stock up on food and drink before airport stores close—or spend their own cash on a hotel. More»

Flight Grounded Over Irate Passengers

Passenger boos too much for one American Airlines flight crew

(NEWSER) - The passengers of an American Airlines flight from Miami to New York on Sunday night probably thought the worst was over when their flight crew finally arrived at the gate an hour late. But angry passengers greeted them with boos and, according to some accounts, obscenities. The crew responded by refusing to board the plane, citing a "hostile work environment," Fox News reports. More»

Heathrow Fiasco a 'National Embarrassment'

British Airways reeling as terminal chaos continues

(NEWSER) - The chaos is continuing at Heathrow's brand-new Terminal 5, with one British politician slamming the fiasco as a "national embarrassment," the Daily Telegraph reports. More than 50 flights were canceled yesterday and British Airways admitted that the mountain of stranded baggage contained as many as 28,000 bags, well above the earlier estimate of 15,000. More»

Bankrupt Air Australia Strands Thousands

Ticket holders may not get refunds

(NEWSER) - An Australian airline has gone bankrupt—leaving some 4,000 passengers stranded in spots like Indonesia and Hawaii. "It currently appears that there are no funds available to meet operational expenses so flights will be suspended immediately," Air Australia and its new administrators said today, according to CNN . "It also appears highly unlikely there will be any flights in the short to medium term," so passengers should seek other transportation, the company noted. More»

2 Hurt in LAX Jetway Collapse

Passenger, pilot fall 10 feet after jet bridge gives way

(NEWSER) - After safely piloting a Boeing 737 from Boston to Los Angeles, a captain yesterday walked off the plane and onto a jet bridge—which collapsed under him. The pilot and a passenger were hospitalized after falling at least 10 feet to the ground from the walkway, reports the Los Angeles Times . Both complained of pain to their ankles, necks, and backs. American Airlines says it plans to immediately inspect all of its jet bridges at Los Angeles International Airport. More»

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most thought-provoking and entertaining stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »

Partnering with: Slate

View Newser on the mobile website

United Computers Crash, Strand Thousands

Airline blames 'network connectivity'

[Images (13)]

[Quotes (2)]

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

United Airlines • airline • airport • airline delays • Los Angeles International Airport • computer glitch • stranded passengers • connectivity

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Airport Overnights Take Off as Hotel Vouchers Vanish

Hotel vouchers have been lost in transit

Flight Grounded Over Irate Passengers

Passenger boos too much for one American Airlines flight crew

Heathrow Fiasco a 'National Embarrassment'

British Airways reeling as terminal chaos continues

Bankrupt Air Australia Strands Thousands

Ticket holders may not get refunds

2 Hurt in LAX Jetway Collapse

Passenger, pilot fall 10 feet after jet bridge gives way

About Us

Site

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?