This morning, American Airlines experienced temporary grounding for all flights due to an undefined technical problem.

Though operations resumed after approximately one hour, travelers can expect ongoing delays and cancellations throughout the day as the airline works to recover from the interruption.

American Airlines has not yet provided a comment in response to inquiries.

As of 11:05 a.m. ET, there were no reported cancellations from American Airlines according to FlightAware, a flight tracking service; however, passengers are encouraged to check with the airline for updates on how specific flights might be impacted.

Know your rights if your flight is delayed or canceled

If your flight was impacted by the American Airlines grounding, you might qualify for a refund. New rules set by the Department of Transportation mandate that airlines must fully refund your ticket, including non-refundable fares if your flight is canceled and you opt not to travel.

The DOT also stipulates that airlines must issue refunds if domestic flights are delayed by over three hours, or more than six hours for international flights, and you choose not to travel.

How frequent are ground stops?

Ground stops are a common strategy used by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to manage operational disruptions. On the same morning, there was another ground stop at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport due to thunderstorms, which lasted from 9:36 a.m. until noon Eastern time.

The FAA prioritizes safety in flight operations and frequently employs ground stops or other control measures to ensure flights are conducted under the safest possible conditions.

“We sometimes implement ground stops due to severe weather affecting our ability to take off or land at a specific airport. We might need to wait for the weather to clear, or air traffic control may close off certain airspace areas. However, it’s quite unusual for a system-wide grounding to occur because of technological issues,” said Laura Einsetler, a captain with a major U.S. airline and the author of the Captain Laura blog, in comments to YSL News. “These technological setbacks are challenging for everyone involved. It’s as frustrating for us as it is for passengers. We want to get you to your destinations, especially during the festive season!”