A “tech malfunction” caused delays on many flights nationwide on Christmas Eve, leaving many passengers stranded, including a Utah family who spent over 10 hours on a plane. Rilie Pierce and her family were delayed twice due to the issue, first with a two-hour delay in Orlando before being rerouted back to New Orleans. The weather conditions in Dallas further delayed their arrival, forcing them to spend four hours waiting on the tarmac.
The flight attendants had exhausted all the food and water supplies, leaving Pierce’s family with no options but to wait it out. Despite the delays, the family was finally able to land in Salt Lake City at 9 p.m., where they were greeted by relieved airport staff who allowed them to exit the plane immediately.
Source: https://kutv.com/news/local/utah-family-experiences-christmas-eve-flight-delays-due-to-american-airlines-malfunction