United Airlines was forced to temporarily ground its mainline flights across several major U.S. airports on Wednesday, citing a “technology issue.” The incident, however, quickly sparked speculation online, with many questioning whether a cyberattack was to blame.
The airline released a brief statement saying, “Due to a technology issue, we are holding United mainline flights at their departure airports.” The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) also confirmed the ground stop, which affected key hubs including Houston, Chicago, Denver, and Newark.
What Actually Happened?
While the airline did not disclose specific technical details, a Reuters report cited sources saying the outage was linked to United’s “weight calculation system”—a critical tool used to ensure proper aircraft load balancing before takeoff. The disruption lasted for more than an hour and caused widespread delays across the country.
Online Speculation Points to Cyber Attack
Despite United’s explanation, social media users were quick to raise doubts. The timing and nature of the incident drew comparisons to a similar disruption that hit Alaska Airlines just weeks ago. In that case, the carrier had to ground all its flights for nearly three hours due to an IT-related issue.
“Are we sure this wasn’t a cyber attack? And United is just covering it up,” one user posted. Others echoed similar concerns, with some speculating the involvement of artificial intelligence or even foreign entities like China. “If calculations are involved, could be a cyber attack by China,” one comment read.
Another wrote, “Alaska Airlines just had this problem, and now them? Fishy fishy.”
United Airlines Responds
As the airline worked to restore normal operations, it acknowledged the likelihood of continued delays. “We expect additional flight delays this evening as we work through this issue. Safety is our top priority, and we’ll work with our customers to get them to their destinations,” United said in a follow-up statement.
So far, there is no official confirmation of any cyberattack, and authorities have not suggested foul play. The FAA and United Airlines continue to monitor the situation.
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