Alaska Airlines Hit by Software Outage, Grounds All Flights
In a dramatic move late Sunday, Alaska Airlines grounded its entire fleet after a critical software outage disrupted flight operations across the board. The decision affected both its mainline aircraft and the planes operated under its regional brand, Horizon Air, leaving passengers stranded and schedules in disarray.
As the fifth-largest U.S. airline, Alaska Airlines flies more than 44 million passengers annually to over 120 destinations. A halt of this scale caused immediate ripples across major airports, delaying flights and frustrating travelers from coast to coast.
Systemwide Ground Stop Freezes 280+ Aircraft
The disruption began around 11 p.m. Eastern Time, when Alaska Airlines submitted a formal request to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to ground its fleet. The airline operates 238 Boeing aircraft under its own name and 45 additional planes via Horizon Air. Within moments, the grounding extended to the entire Alaska Airlines network.
In an official statement, the company confirmed the widespread grounding and acknowledged the impact:
“We requested a temporary, systemwide ground stop for Alaska and Horizon Air flights until the issue is resolved. There will be residual impacts to our operation throughout the evening.”
Although the airline acted swiftly, the announcement didn’t come early enough for passengers already aboard waiting planes.
Passengers Left in Limbo as Planes Sit Idle
One such passenger, Grant Watts, found himself stuck on the tarmac at Denver International Airport for over two hours. With no clear updates initially, the confusion and delay left many fliers anxious. Eventually, around 10:30 p.m., crew members informed passengers they would need to exit the aircraft.
“It was frustrating,” Watts said. “We sat there without any real information. Then suddenly, we were told to deboard.”
Experiences like Watts’ played out across multiple cities as grounded passengers waited for word on when — or if — their flights would resume.
Horizon Air Also Affected by the Technical Glitch
The Horizon Air fleet, a regional carrier operated by Alaska Airlines, wasn’t spared. Like its parent company, Horizon Air had to halt all active operations during the outage. With 45 aircraft in service, the grounding caused further delays for smaller airports and regional hubs that rely on Horizon’s network for daily connectivity.
Travelers scheduled on Horizon flights faced the same uncertainty and long wait times — even on shorter routes where delays often cascade quickly through the system.
FAA Yet to Comment as Investigation Continues
As of late Sunday, the FAA had not issued a formal statement regarding the technical glitch or its cause. While Alaska Airlines confirmed the outage, the lack of details raised questions about what triggered the failure and how long it might take to resolve.
This incident highlights the increasing dependence of airline operations on digital infrastructure. A single software disruption can ground hundreds of planes and displace thousands of passengers, even in one of the world’s most advanced aviation markets.
Looking Ahead: Residual Impacts Expected Into Monday
While Alaska Airlines has not specified how long it will take to restore normal operations, the airline warned of “residual impacts” throughout the night and possibly into the next day. Delays, rebookings, and customer service backlogs are expected as the carrier works to get planes and crews back on schedule.
Passengers scheduled to fly with Alaska or Horizon Air should check their flight status online and prepare for possible itinerary changes.
The Final Word
A routine Sunday night turned chaotic for Alaska Airlines as a software outage forced a full fleet grounding. With more than 280 planes and millions of customers affected, the airline now faces a race against time to restore order.
Stay tuned to Maple Wire for the latest updates on this evolving situation.
