On July 25, 2026, United Airlines encountered a technology outage that disrupted flight operations nationwide, causing delays and check-in issues for many flights. The problem originated from the airline’s reservation system, which prevented ticket processing and customer check-ins. Flights already airborne or that had departed were not affected.
Washington Dulles and Newark Airports Report Delays and Check-in Issues
Passengers at Washington Dulles International Airport in Virginia and Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey reported difficulties with check-in, boarding, and baggage processing. Social media posts and outage reports submitted to Down Detector began appearing before 7:40 a.m., totaling more than 430 by 8:23 a.m. These setbacks affected United Airlines passengers
across the United States, including routes from New York to San Francisco.
United Airlines Statement and Resolution Timeline
A United Airlines spokesperson confirmed the outage had been resolved and that operations were returning to normal. The spokesperson explained that the technology failure impacted contact centers, check-in services, and the reservation system but did not affect flights that had already departed or were airborne. “Our teams are getting our operations back to normal after a technology outage affected contact centers and check-in processes earlier today,” the spokesperson said.
Traveler Recommendations and Historical Context
Passengers traveling with United Airlines on July 25 were advised to verify their flight status through the airline’s app
before arriving at the airport. The airline had experienced major disruptions related to widespread technology outages two years prior, linked to a CrowdStrike update that caused cancellations and communication issues. The July 25 outage represents another significant operational hurdle tied to reservation system failures.
