Athena query stuck at loading results since 24 hours. Athena console unresponsive

Question

Hello,

I ran a query " SELECT * from "db"."table" limit 10 to check if the data from my csv file had successfully been crawled.

That query has been running since yesterday and Athena Console is stuck for me. I cant stop the query and my browser becomes unresponsive as soon as the tab for Athena console loads up.

I tried clearing up the query list and deleting any running queries in Athena via cloudshell but that did not help either.

Any help is welcome.

Thanks

re:Post Agent · Answer

The issue you're experiencing with Athena - a query stuck for 24 hours and an unresponsive console - is unusual and indicates a potential problem that needs addressing.

Here are some possible causes and solutions:

1. **Internal Athena Error**: You might be experiencing an INTERNAL_ERROR_QUERY_ENGINE issue, which is an error that occurs on Athena's query engine side rather than being caused by user input. This type of error can sometimes cause queries to hang.

2. **Data or Query Complexity Issues**: Even though your query is simple (SELECT * with LIMIT 10), there could be issues with the underlying data structure, file format, or size that's causing problems.

3. **Browser/Console Issues**: The unresponsiveness might be related to the Athena console itself rather than the actual query execution.

Here are steps you can take to resolve this:

1. **Try a Different Browser or Incognito Mode**: This can help determine if it's a browser cache/cookie issue.

2. **Access Athena Through AWS CLI**: Instead of using the console, try running or canceling your query using the AWS CLI commands.

3. **Check Query Status via API**: Use the AWS CLI or SDK to check the status of your query without loading the console.

4. **Contact AWS Support**: If the problem persists, you may need to contact AWS Support as this could be related to an internal Athena system issue.

5. **Review Your Data**: Ensure your CSV file is properly formatted and not excessively large. Consider optimizing your data by using columnar formats like Parquet or ORC for better performance.

6. **Check Permissions**: Verify that your IAM role has the necessary permissions to access both the Athena service and the AWS Glue Data Catalog.

Once you regain access to Athena, consider implementing best practices like partitioning your data and using optimized file formats to improve query performance and prevent similar issues in the future.  
**Sources**  
[ErrorCode: INTERNAL_ERROR_QUERY_ENGINE | AWS re:Post](https://repost.aws/questions/QUigPXLxaERTGs6l9oXq3ZRw/errorcode-internal-error-query-engine)  
[INTERNAL_ERROR_QUERY_ENGINE | AWS re:Post](https://repost.aws/questions/QUC7JGhGGqQDauiycpSLXz_Q/internal-error-query-engine)  
[Community | What happens when you run a query in Amazon Athena?](https://community.aws/content/2iCj9arZ3eya2PwhqGQm45QGpHe/what-happens-athena-query)

Athena query stuck at loading results since 24 hours. Athena console unresponsive

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