Alaska Airlines Faces Major IT Outage, Grounds Flights Across U.S. and Mexico
Alaska Airlines recently experienced a significant IT outage that led to the grounding of flights across the United States and Mexico. The airline confirmed that the issue was not related to cybersecurity or any external threats. Instead, it stemmed from a technical failure within its internal systems, which disrupted key operations.
The incident prompted the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to implement a ground stop, requiring all affected aircraft to remain on the ground until the issue was resolved. This measure was taken to ensure the safety of passengers and crew. Despite the disruption, the airline emphasized that no safety protocols were compromised during the outage.
“We apologize for the inconvenience caused by this situation,” the airline stated in a public message. “If you are scheduled to fly tonight, please check your flight status before heading to the airport.” The statement highlighted the importance of communication with travelers, as many were left uncertain about their travel plans.
Impact on Airports and Travelers
Several major airports across the country were affected by the grounding, including O’Hare International Airport in Chicago and John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City. These disruptions lasted throughout Thursday and into early Friday morning, when the FAA lifted the ground stop. However, the FAA urged passengers to remain vigilant and check their flight status before traveling.
This event marked the second IT-related disruption for Alaska Airlines this year. In July, the airline had to ground all its flights for approximately three hours due to a hardware failure at one of its data centers. The recent outage began around 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, October 24, when a critical system at the airline’s primary data center failed.
Despite the repeated issues, the airline clarified that the current outage is unrelated to previous events. “The IT outage is not a cybersecurity event, and it’s not related to any other events,” the airline added. It also noted that Hawaiian Airlines flights were not affected by the problem.
Passenger Reactions and Industry-Wide Concerns
Passengers faced significant challenges during the outage, with some opting to leave their flights after being stuck on the runway for extended periods. At Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas, reports indicated that passengers decided to "offload" from a flight that had been delayed for over two hours. One X user shared the experience, stating, “Passengers are offloading. Many appear to be done waiting on board. Don't blame them. Still no word on progress.”
Such incidents have sparked concerns about the reliability of airline IT systems. While temporary disruptions are common in the aviation industry, the frequency of such events has raised questions about the need for more robust infrastructure. In 2023, the U.K.’s air traffic control systems suffered a major failure that impacted hundreds of thousands of travelers.
Ongoing Efforts to Resolve the Issue
Alaska Airlines has been working to resolve the IT issue and restore normal operations as quickly as possible. The airline expressed deep regret for the inconvenience caused to its passengers and reiterated its commitment to getting travelers to their destinations safely and efficiently.
As the aviation industry continues to rely heavily on digital systems, incidents like these underscore the importance of having backup solutions and contingency plans in place. For now, travelers are advised to stay informed and check with the airline for updates before making any travel arrangements.
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