CHICAGO — United Airlines has begun canceling flights, diverting airborne aircraft, and issuing travel waivers for passengers as a rare nationwide Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ground stop creates severe congestion across its major airport hubs.
In an updated operational statement issued at 4:50 p.m., United confirmed that while its flights already in the air are continuing toward their destinations, severe bottlenecks on the tarmac are forcing changes mid-flight.
"Diversions are occurring due to the number of airplanes on the ground at our hubs," the airline stated, adding that "cancellations are being implemented due to congestion in the nation's air traffic system."
How United Operations Are AffectedThe airline's update reflects the escalating ripple effects of the FAA's Friday afternoon order, which halted all U.S. departures following a "temporary telecommunications outage" affecting all 22 regional Air Route Traffic Control Centers.
Under United's updated guidance:
Domestic Departures: All new domestic flights remain grounded until the FAA lifts the order.
International Flights: International departures are being managed on a case-by-case basis by federal air traffic controllers.
Airborne Flights: Planes already en route continue flying, though some are being rerouted away from gridlocked hubs.
Passenger Rebooking: United has issued a travel waiver allowing affected flyers to modify their itineraries without standard change fees. Customers are urged to check flight statuses or rebook via
united.comor the United mobile app.
Gridlock Across the U.S. AirspaceThe ground stop—triggered shortly before 4 p.m. EST—caught more than 4,000 U.S.-bound aircraft already in the air, according to flight-tracking data from Flightradar24. With departing planes unable to leave gates and arriving flights needing tarmac space, major hub-and-spoke carriers like United face rapid gate shortages.
Across the broader U.S. aviation network, nearly 7,000 flights have already been delayed or canceled on Friday afternoon. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed that FAA technicians are actively working to resolve the communications failure, while Homeland Security officials have stated there is no indication of a cyberattack or security threat.
This is a developing story and will be updated as airlines and federal officials release further details.