Computer glitch disrupts United Airlines flights

By the CNN Wire Staff

June 18, 2011 2:21 a.m. EDT

Hundreds of passengers at several U.S. airports are stranded after a glitch with United Airlines' computer systems.

(CNN) -- A computer problem disrupted the departure of United Airlines planes Friday night, the airline said.

The problem appeared to be nationwide.

The Chicago-based airline said a computer outage at 7:15 p.m. CT interrupted United Airlines' systems of scheduled departures, reservations and processing systems.

"Our technology team is working to resolve the issue as soon as possible. We apologize for the disruption being caused to travelers at affected airports and we are seeking to resume operations as quickly as possible," company spokesman Charles Hobart said in a prepared statement e-mailed to CNN.

The spokesman did not provide further details about the scope of the problem.

Karen Pride of the Chicago Department of Aviation told CNN the agency is providing extra security personnel and terminal management staff to assist with the situation at O'Hare International Airport.

United is manually processing passengers because of the computer problems, said Harold Johnson, a spokesman for Los Angeles International Airport.

Lines of people could be seen at airports across the country, including LAX, San Francisco and Denver. Many passengers sat on the floor as they waited.

Chris Hou and his wife, Jennifer, became stranded at LAX while waiting on a connecting flight to Denver.

"We're pretty easy going people. We travel a lot. We understand that problems happen," Chris Hou told CNN. "I just think there would be a little more information. All they say is 'we have a computer problem.' By the time you get to hour three, it gets a little frustrating."

An update posted on United Airlines' Facebook page late Friday stated, "we are still working to fix the issue. We will keep you posted as we get information."

Michael Goldenthal, who was on an airplane at O'Hare when the problem occurred, said it became apparent something was wrong as the flight was taxiing.

"We were on the runway when the pilot came on the P.A. and said they had lost contact with the company computer system which measured the weight of the plane," Goldenthal said.

Goldenthal said the aircraft taxied around for nearly an hour and then returned to the gate for additional fuel. But passengers were not allowed to get off.

The flight crew told passengers that the computer system was down in Chicago and elsewhere, Goldenthal said.

[Source : cnn]