Alaska Airlines Grounds All Flights Due to System-Wide IT Outage
Something strange happened in the skies this Monday, July 21 2025. Alaska Airlines suddenly grounded all its flights across the country. The reason? Alaska Airlines major system-wide IT outage. No takeoffs. No landings. Just delays, confusion, and frustrated passengers at airports.
It was early in the morning when the issue hit. By the time most of us were waking up, hundreds of travelers were already stuck. Alaska Airlines asked the FAA for a full ground stop. That means all flights had to stay on the ground, a rare move in the aviation world.
Today, airlines depend heavily on technology. A single glitch can stop everything. That’s exactly what we saw here. Booking systems, check-in tools, flight tracking, everything went down.
Let’s figure out what happened, why it matters, and how Alaska Airlines is handling the chaos. We’ll also look at past issues, what experts say, and what this could mean for the future of flying.
Alaska Airlines IT Outage: What Happened?
Late Sunday, July 20, 2025, evening, around 8 p.m. Pacific Time, Alaska Airlines faced a sudden IT failure. The carrier’s online systems stopped working. This wasn’t a minor glitch. It was serious enough to halt everything. We learned that Alaska requested a system-wide ground stop for both Alaska and Horizon Air flights. The FAA confirmed that no flights could depart until the issue was resolved.
The full fleet of more than 200 aircraft was grounded. That included 238 Boeing 737s and 87 Embraer 175s. Airports across the U.S. especially hubs like Seattle, Portland, and San Diego, felt the impact immediately. Some passengers reported long lines, blank screens at kiosks, and scrambled gate agents.
Company Response & Passenger Impact
Alaska Airlines quickly addressed the issue online. They said, “We requested a temporary, system-wide ground stop until the issue is resolved,” and asked travelers to check flight status before heading to the airport. An apology followed, along with a warning about residual delays even after systems came back online.
Many passengers were left stranded, especially those with late-night or early-morning flights. At Portland International, staff encouraged travelers to keep hotel receipts as a hint that overnight rebooking was starting. Meanwhile, Sea and Seattle-Tacoma saw a flood of rerouted passengers and empty departure boards.
Root Cause & Investigation
The airline has not yet confirmed the root cause any official word on whether it was a software bug, hardware failure, or cyberattack. This outage comes nearly a year after Alaska’s last full grounding in April 2024, when a weight-and-balance system glitch grounded the fleet. It also echoes a global IT scare last July when a faulty CrowdStrike update disrupted airlines and airports around the world.
Experts are cautious. Some point to increased hacking activity by groups like “Scattered Spider.” Microsoft even confirmed active attacks on its server software earlier this week. But as of now, Alaska’s team is working to restore systems and assessing whether this outage ties back to broader security threats.
Backstage Ground Stop Mechanics
A ground stop isn’t just a term; it’s a hard halt. The FAA will block takeoffs nationwide until the airline fixes the issue. This kind of measure only comes when safety or operations are at serious risk. Once lifted, flights can resume, but the ripple effect is massive: aircraft must be rescheduled, crews must be reallocated, and thousands of passengers might need to be rebooked.
Alaska Airlines IT Outage: What Should Passengers Do?
If you’re flying with Alaska soon, here’s our advice:
- Check your flight status before leaving for the airport. The airline repeatedly asked travelers to do this.
- Be patient. Even when systems come back up, delays and cancellations will take time to clear. Expect disruptions into Monday.
- Stay in touch with Alaska. The airline likely will rebook affected passengers on Monday flights first, then beyond.
Past Issues & Broader Context
Alaska Airlines isn’t new to tech trouble:
- September 2024: Grounded briefly in Seattle after a similar tech glitch.
- April 2024: Fleet-wide stop due to weight-and-balance system error.
- January 2024: The Crew responded to a door panel detachment mid-flight, and passengers landed safely.
These recurring issues are raising red flags. Tech reliance is up across airlines. So when IT falls apart, so does everything from bookings to boarding passes to flight plans.
What does this mean for the Industry?
This incident underscores a crucial truth: airlines must invest in digital resilience. IT systems now power nearly every step in an airport experience. Disruptions aren’t just a hassle, they’re a threat to safety and reputation.
Regulators may begin pushing carriers to add backups and tighter cybersecurity rules. The 2023 FAA NOTAM blackout caused by an accidental file deletion grounded all U.S. flights for hours. That event led to new safeguards. Alaska’s repeated outages could prompt another wave of reforms.
What Comes Next?
Alaska Airlines has technical teams racing to fix the root cause. But even after systems are back online, we expect a sluggish recovery. Rescheduling dozens of flights, coordinating crews, and contacting affected passengers will take time.
Once things stabilize, Alaska will likely invest heavily in its systems software upgrades, backup servers, and stronger cybersecurity. But real change will take weeks, if not months.
Final Thoughts
We’re living in an age where one data glitch can stop global travel. Alaska Airlines IT outage is a wake-up call. Airlines must build stronger systems and faster. Passengers need accurate updates and backup options. Regulators need to enforce smarter rules. Until all that happens, we’ll keep watching and advising you to always “check before you fly.”
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
They grounded all flights because of a system-wide IT outage. Alaska Airlines requested a ground stop from the FAA. This meant no flights could take off until the issue was fixed.
Yes. They are facing a major IT glitch that has disrupted bookings, check-ins, and flight schedules. Operations are currently paused until systems come back online.
The logo shows the face of an Alaska Native. It honors the state’s heritage and spirit. It reflects the airline’s deep ties to Alaska’s Indigenous cultures.
Alaska is generally reliable. It ranks third in customer satisfaction and seventh in 2024 reliability among U.S. airlines. But the recent outage has temporarily affected its performance.
Disclaimer:
This content is for informational purposes only and not financial advice. Always conduct your research.