American Airlines briefly grounds its operations nationwide after a systemwide IT outage disrupts key operational systems. Multiple reports say the disruption occurs during the evening peak period, affecting flights and ground operations at the same time. According to FAA information relayed by outlets, the FAA issues a ground stop advisory, and American holds aircraft that are not already in the air to prevent departures while the airline’s teams work to fix the technology problem. As a result, planes cannot depart until systems are restored, leading to delays and missed departure opportunities for many flights. Several sources also note that the outage coincides with other disruptions, including severe thunderstorms and existing ground stops and delays at some East Coast airports, which contribute to a broader travel disruption picture. After the IT systems are resolved, American resumes flights, with normal departures gradually returning. The reports characterize the incident as temporary, but with hundreds of flights delayed before operations fully recover.