Originally Posted by
kauppias
Well that is the info given to me BY UA, if it was weather related I doubt they would say missing crew... This was for a very early morning departure.
On early AM flights, often means that the crew hasn't had its FAA-mandated rest (sleep) period. Last night's flight got in late and the AM flight is too early.
Nobody doubts that UA told you that the delay was for "crew missing." But unless you know why the crew isn't at the aircraft, you have no way of saying whether the delay was or was not avoidable.
Crew on legally required rest due to late arrival is a lot different than crew is too drunk to fly.