American Airlines flight meltdown hits UK: Christmas journey chaos as British passengers left stranded in US after ‘technical subject’, drivers face big delays after lorry flips on busy motorway and trains axed over crew shortages

Britons making a last-minute dash home for Christmas today are facing flight chaos and traffic gridlock after a lorry overturned causing a major motorway to close.

American Airlines temporarily grounded all of its planes in the US due to a technical issue – hitting customers on one of the busiest travel days of the year, with potential knock-on effects to continue.

There are fears UK passengers could be caught in the chaos which hit the US and left unable to return home for Christmas. 

Meanwhile a crash took place early on Tuesday morning between junctions 7 and 6 of the M40, and left an HGV overhanging a footpath below.

The southbound carriageway has been fully closed between junction 8a for Oxford and junction 6 for Lewknor while the vehicle is recovered, National Highways said.

Work to repair the damaged safety barrier will also have to be carried out. A diversion is in place via the A40, although additional delays are expected.

Brits are also facing delays on the trains due to planned maintenance works and a shortage of train staff.

It comes as last minute Christmas shoppers today have been treated to unseasonably mild conditions as temperatures hit 12C. 

On the M40, there is disruption expected for the rest of the day as the complex recovery mission begins.

Foggy travelling conditions are not helping matters, with diversion routes jampacked with Christmas traffic. 

Craig Sowden, operations manager for National Highways’ East region, said: ‘This collision has left an HGV balancing precariously over a footpath used by members of the public below.’

‘We have looked at all possible options but the only way to manage this situation safely is to close the carriageway.’

Traffic was also temporarily stopped on the M62 this morning between J22 and J21 due to horses loose on the carriageway. The animals have since been safely removed.

Elsewhere, international travellers are facing havoc after the Federal Aviation Administration ordered all American Airlines flights grounded in the US after the carrier reported a technical issue affecting its entire system with millions traveling for the holiday.

In social media replies to frustrated travellers, the airline said: ‘Our team is currently working to rectify this. Your continued patience is appreciated.’

The company has not issued a press release explaining the issue further, and it is unclear if other countries will follow suit.

A post on the Federal Aviation Administration’s website acknowledged the airline’s request for a ‘nationwide groundstop’ for all American Airlines planes and their subsidiary airlines.

The groundings could not come at a worse time for the millions of travellers expected to fly over the next 10 days.

The US’s Transportation Security Administration expects to screen 40million passengers over the holidays and through January 2 – many of whom will be British.

Weather warnings were put in place across the UK at the weekend as strong winds battered the country sparking fears some might not make it back for the special day.

The gusts caused flight cancellations and widespread rail delays with Belfast City Airport having to close its runway on Sunday after a plane was damaged in a ‘hard landing’.

But travellers can now breathe a sigh of relief as all warnings have been lifted due to ‘unusually mild conditions’.

The Met Office has forecast a ‘grey Christmas’ with ‘extremely mild’ temperatures for most in the coming days – ruling out any prospect of a white Christmas for the majority of the country.    

It comes after parts of the UK were battered by 60mph winds on Saturday and Sunday with the strongest gust recorded in South Uist on the Western Isles at 82mph.

But the travel picture looks far more smooth sailing for those making journeys today.

While Heathrow Airport was forced to cancel around 100 flights on Sunday due to the conditions, a spokesperson said it was ‘business as usual’ on Monday.

And National Rail was not reporting any widespread issues on Monday, although there were some isolated issues.   

Ferry customers are still being warned of ongoing disruption on some routes operating from Scotland and Northern Ireland.

While driving conditions have improved, congestion is still likely.

Last week, the RAC predicted a record 29 million separate road journeys in the run-up to Christmas – with almost 7 million over the next two days alone.

It warned travelling could be a ‘pretty exhausting experience’ and urged drivers to ‘be patient’. 

On Saturday the AA labelled the weather the ‘perfect storm’ for travel chaos as an estimated 21.3 million drivers took to the roads, followed by 22.7 million making their journeys on Sunday and 21.6 million today.

The president of the AA, Edmund King, said the remainder of journeys during the festive period should run relatively smoothly, with hold-ups in the ‘usual hotspots’, such as the M25, M1 and M6.

Temperatures are expected to improve in the final run-up to Christmas Day, with sunshine forecast in some areas, according to BBC Weather.

Northern Ireland and western Scotland are expected to see some patchy rain, which will make its way into western parts of England and Wales on Monday afternoon. 

There is a chance of some snow over the Scottish Hills and the Pennines.

Christmas Eve will be cloudy but is on course to be one of the mildest ever recorded.

Temperatures are forecast to hit an average of 12C or 13C, while Christmas Day is expected to be 11C or 12C.