American Airlines nationwide ground stop lifted after 'technical issue'

FAA lifts ground stop after technical issue 

WASHINGTON - The Federal Aviation Administration has lifted a nationwide ground stop to all American Airlines flights grounded in the U.S. after the carrier reported a technical issue affecting its entire system with millions traveling for the holiday.

In social media replies to frustrated travelers on Tuesday morning, the airline said: "We're currently experiencing a technical issue with all American Airlines flights. Your safety is our utmost priority, once this is rectified, we'll have you safely on your way to your destination."

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Working to fix the problem

"A vendor technology issue briefly affected flights this morning. That issue has been resolved and flights have resumed. We sincerely apologize to our customers for the inconvenience this morning. It’s all hands on deck as our team is working diligently to get customers where they need to go as quickly as possible," and update from the airline said.

they said the ground stop lasted about an hour.

"American Airlines reported a technical issue this morning and requested a nationwide ground stop. The ground stop has now been lifted," the FAA said in a statement.

The timing of the groundings is particularly challenging for the millions of travelers expected to fly over the next 10 days. The Transportation Security Administration anticipates screening 40 million passengers during the holiday season through January 2.

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