A significant IT system failure at Alaska Airlines has triggered widespread flight disruptions across the United States, leaving hundreds of passengers facing delays and uncertainty.
The technical issues began affecting operations on Wednesday, with the airline confirming systems problems were impacting their ability to operate flights normally. The cascade of delays created a domino effect throughout their network.
Passenger Frustration Mounts at Airports
Travelers took to social media to express their frustration as airport screens showed mounting delays and cancellations. Many reported being stuck on grounded aircraft or in terminal buildings with limited information about when they might depart.
One passenger tweeted: "Sitting on the tarmac for over two hours now with no updates. This Alaska Airlines IT outage is causing absolute chaos."
Airline Scrambles for Solutions
Alaska Airlines acknowledged the severe disruption, stating they were working urgently to resolve the technical problems. The airline advised passengers to check their flight status before heading to airports and promised to provide regular updates.
The carrier implemented a ground stop on some flights as technicians worked to restore critical systems needed for flight operations, including booking and check-in services.
Broader Impact on Air Travel
While primarily affecting Alaska Airlines, the disruption caused ripple effects throughout the US aviation network. Connecting flights and code-share partners experienced secondary delays as the situation developed.
This incident marks another example of how vulnerable modern air travel systems are to technical failures, coming after similar IT outages have plagued other major carriers in recent years.
Passengers affected by the delays are entitled to certain rights under airline policies, though compensation varies depending on the circumstances and duration of delays.
