American Airlines flights resume in Philly and nationwide after Christmas Eve grounding

All American Airlines flights were briefly grounded Tuesday morning, with an unknown issue affecting travelers on Christmas Eve, one of the busiest travel days of the year.

The ground stop, which affected flights from Philadelphia and across the country, lasted about an hour and was lifted shortly after 8 a.m.

“We’re currently experiencing a technical issue with all American Airlines flights,” the company wrote on social media in response to one passenger’s question. “Your safety is our utmost priority, once this is rectified, we’ll have you safely on your way to your destination.”

American Airlines blamed the delays on a vendor technology issue, which the company said affected systems needed to release flights.

“We sincerely apologize to our customers for the inconvenience this morning,” the airline said in a statement. “It’s all hands on deck as our team is working diligently to get customers where they need to go as quickly as possible.”

At least 72 American Airlines flights were delayed Tuesday at Philadelphia International Airport, about 43% of the airline’s flights, according to the tracking site FlightAware. You can check the status of your flight on American Airlines’ website.

American Airlines is the largest carrier at the Philadelphia International Airport, with more than 60% of the passenger market.