What was supposed to be a smooth start to the week turned into a travel nightmare for thousands of Alaska Airlines passengers as a sudden and severe IT failure forced the entire fleet to be grounded — not just for minutes, but for hours — across airports in the U.S.
Entire Alaska Airlines Fleet Comes to a Halt
Late Sunday night, Alaska Airlines made an urgent call to the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, requesting an immediate stop to all mainline flights.
The issue? A sweeping system-wide IT outage.
At around 10:50 p.m. EST, every single one of the airline’s 238 Boeing planes was ordered to remain on the ground — and it didn’t stop there.
Soon after, the grounding was expanded to cover its regional arm, Horizon Air, which runs another 45 aircraft.
The grounding was initially expected to lift by midnight, but as technicians scrambled to get the systems back online, delays stretched until 2 a.m. EST.
Airline Warns of Lingering Flight Delays Into Monday
In a public statement, Alaska Airlines explained, “At approximately 8 p.m. Pacific on Sunday, we experienced an IT outage that’s impacting our operations.
We requested a temporary, system-wide ground stop for Alaska and Horizon Air flights until the issue is resolved.”
Even after lifting the order, the airline cautioned that delays and disruptions would likely carry over into Monday.
They urged customers to double-check flight statuses before heading to the airport.
“We apologize to our guests for this inconvenience,” the statement added.
Hungry, Tired and Stuck: Passengers Vent Frustration Online
For those already on board planes or waiting at terminals, the experience was frustrating to say the least.
A passenger in Denver shared that he and his fiancé were stuck on the tarmac for two hours before the crew told everyone to get off.
Another traveler, Riley Davis, said he’d been sitting inside the plane for over two and a half hours — still without any updates on when they’d be allowed to leave.
“Since they cannot coordinate exact gates, they are manually assigning gates via radio communication,” he said. “I would love to know when I can get some dinner, I’m starving.”
Social Media Erupts With Complaints From Stranded Flyers
Alaska Airlines’ official update on X (formerly Twitter) came hours after the chaos began — but by then, they were already getting flooded with angry messages from frustrated travelers.
One mother shared that her minor son was stuck on board a plane with no adult company, adding, “I will never let him fly Alaska Airlines again.”
Another passenger said the air inside the cabin smelled like gasoline, and people were sitting in silence, hungry and exhausted well past 10 p.m.
One more traveler summed up the sentiment perfectly: “After a six-hour flight, we’ve been sitting on the tarmac for over two hours.”
FAA Keeps Quiet Amid Growing Tensions
As of early Monday morning, the Federal Aviation Administration hadn’t provided any official comment on the matter.
But the timing of this system crash couldn’t be worse for Alaska Airlines, which has already been under the spotlight in recent months due to earlier safety concerns.
Boeing’s Role in Past Scandal Casts Fresh Doubt
This latest disruption comes just weeks after a disturbing report from the National Transportation Safety Board revealed that a Boeing manufacturing oversight led to a panel blowing off an Alaska Airlines flight midair in January 2024.
That flight, carrying 175 people, had departed from Portland and was bound for Ontario, California.
According to the NTSB, four bolts that should’ve secured the aircraft’s door plug were never installed.
The part somehow left Boeing’s factory in Renton, Washington, without them.
While Alaska’s flight crew was cleared of any wrongdoing and praised for their professionalism, Boeing’s manufacturing practices came under intense fire.
Officials Say Catastrophic Failures Were Preventable
NTSB chair Jennifer Homendy put it plainly: “An accident like this only happens when there are multiple system failures.”
The board’s investigation continues, but the implication is clear — this wasn’t a fluke.
It was a preventable mistake, made worse by poor oversight and internal quality control issues.
Alaska Airlines Faces Double Trouble With Trust and Tech
Between the manufacturing scandal and now this widespread system outage, Alaska Airlines finds itself in a trust crisis.
It’s not just about canceled flights anymore — it’s about confidence in the airline’s ability to deliver safe and reliable service.
For the 44 million people who fly Alaska Airlines every year, these back-to-back incidents have sparked real concern.
As one angry passenger wrote online, “This isn’t just about delays. It’s about people feeling like no one’s in control anymore.”
What Travelers Can Expect Moving Forward
While the immediate IT outage has been resolved, Alaska Airlines has made it clear that ripple effects will continue throughout the day.
That means more delays, possible cancellations, and a lot of long lines at customer service desks.
If you’ve got a flight booked with Alaska or Horizon Air, officials advise checking your status online, arriving early, and preparing for potential rebookings.