Computer glitch delays United flights

Mary Bruno • Feb 6, 2018

Feb 6, 2018

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                <h1>Computer glitch delays United flights</h1>
                <h2><p>And GeekWire's John Cook is feeling the pain. "My Seattle-bound flight is now stuck on the tarmac at Washington D.C.’s Dulles airport," reported Cook — at 6:30 Tuesday morning. "Our pilot had little information, simply telling passengers on the Boeing 737-900 that a</p></h2>
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               <p>By <a href="/author/mary-bruno-crosscut-com/">Mary Bruno</a></p> 
              <p><time datetime="2025-02-04T05:00:00-08:00">Feb 6, 2018</time></p>
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            <p>And <a href="http://www.geekwire.com/2015/united-airlines-computer-glitch-strands-passengers-across-u-s-including-me/?ref=avalancheghost.one">GeekWire's John Cook</a> is feeling the pain. "My Seattle-bound flight is now stuck on the tarmac at Washington D.C.’s Dulles airport," reported Cook — at 6:30 Tuesday morning. "Our pilot had little information, simply telling passengers on the Boeing 737-900 that a computer glitch in Chicago caused the issue."</p><p>A Federal Aviation Administration advisory blamed an automation issue for grounding United flights, <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/trafficandcommuting/united-airlines-resumes-flights-after-they-were-grounded-nationwide/2015/06/02/fa6d985e-0929-11e5-a7ad-b430fc1d3f5c_story.html?ref=avalancheghost.one">according to the Washington Post</a>, and referred inquiries to the airline. A United spokesperson explained, in an email: “United began delaying flights at approximately 8 a.m. [Central time] to ensure aircraft departed with proper dispatching information ... “Flights are now departing and we are accommodating our customers to their destinations.” You'll be home soon, John!</p>
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And GeekWire's John Cook is feeling the pain. "My Seattle-bound flight is now stuck on the tarmac at Washington D.C.’s Dulles airport," reported Cook — at 6:30 Tuesday morning. "Our pilot had little information, simply telling passengers on the Boeing 737-900 that a computer glitch in Chicago caused the issue."

A Federal Aviation Administration advisory blamed an automation issue for grounding United flights, according to the Washington Post, and referred inquiries to the airline. A United spokesperson explained, in an email: “United began delaying flights at approximately 8 a.m. [Central time] to ensure aircraft departed with proper dispatching information ... “Flights are now departing and we are accommodating our customers to their destinations.” You'll be home soon, John!

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By Mary Bruno

Mary was Crosscut's Editor-in-Chief and Interim Publisher. In more than 25 years as a journalist, she has worked as a writer, editor and editorial director for a variety of print and web publications,