Maybe "water situation" was a fancy way of saying "thunderstorms"!

That said, I suspect there was a mechanical issue. If it was solely due to congestion and/or weather, the passengers normally stay on-board.

Maybe they did have a water situation, which after fixing that they then had congestion due to missing their push-back slot..

Just guessing of course.

That happens when two (or more) issues occur. Maybe the mechanical issue was fixed quickly and then ATC told them to hold off departing because of the weather.

Back in 2010 flying LHR-IAD we had a mechanical issue that delayed pushback by about an hour, then compounded by that Icelandic volcano erupting again meaning the plane had to detour all the way around the north of Iceland. Overall two hours late into IAD, meaning I missed my connection to PDX. I don't know how much we'd have been delayed if only one of the issues occurred. United comped all alcohol in Economy as a quick gesture of goodwill, and I got my free hotel in the IAD area.

I just thought it was too much of a coincidence though. Their delay actually jibed with that newark delay advisory.

Really, as you all pointed out, who knows.

Can't see any issue here. The likelihood of two separate and unrelated issues is very real.

Amazing how even tiny little things, can "domino," changing the entire complexion, of an event.

A 25¢ lightbulb, taking just enough time for a thunderstorm to develop, or a volcano to erupt!

It can all be strangely intertwined.

It can almost seem "Bibical," at times, when this event beats that event, and so on.

As long as one arrives safely, the rest will all just be footnotes.

Fly safely,

Hunt

They wouldn't have deplaned for the delay at EWR. Definitely a mechanical issue.

B.