Passengers across the United States are facing significant delays as a major airline grapples with a technical issue, causing many to be stranded on planes at various airports. Alaska Airlines continues to deal with a backlog resulting from an IT outage that forced flights to be grounded in both the US and Mexico. The airline, serving over 100 destinations, acknowledged the problem on its website, stating, “Looks like we are experiencing a temporary technical issue. We are aware of the issue and are actively looking into it.”
The situation persisted for several hours until it was resolved around 3.30 UK time (7.30pm in Seattle, Washington, the airline’s base). However, the backlog has led to extensive delays at airports nationwide, including O’Hare International Airport in Chicago and John F Kennedy International Airport in New York City.
Passengers have taken to social media to express frustration over the flight chaos caused by the Alaska Airlines IT outage. Many are seeking more information from the airline, with reports of stranded travelers and canceled flights circulating online.
Alaska Airlines confirmed that the IT outage, impacting its entire network, was due to an issue at its primary data center. The airline assured passengers that flight safety was never compromised and apologized for the disruption, offering a flexible travel policy to support affected travelers.
While the technical issue has been resolved, significant delays are still expected at airports as operations are being restored. Passengers are advised to check their flight status before traveling, as some flights may be canceled due to the backlog. Alaska Airlines, despite the recent challenges, is set to expand its services to Europe by early 2026.