Alaska Airlines Issues Nationwide Ground Stop, Leaving Passengers Stranded
Alaska Airlines has taken an unprecedented step by ordering an immediate ground stop for all of its mainline aircraft, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). This decision has caused a ripple effect across the country, leaving many travelers stranded and disrupting flights from coast to coast. The move comes just a month after a startling incident in which a plane’s door reportedly blew off mid-flight, raising concerns about safety and operational integrity.
The FAA’s status page confirmed that the airline had requested the grounding of all mainline flights nationwide. However, the specific reason behind this emergency action remains undisclosed at this time. As the situation unfolds, it is unclear whether the issue stems from a technical failure, a safety concern, or another operational challenge.
In addition to the mainline aircraft, the FAA’s Air Traffic Control System Command Center later updated its alert to include Horizon Air, a regional subsidiary that operates flights under the Alaska Airlines brand. This expansion of the ground stop suggests that the problem may be more widespread than initially thought.
Passengers affected by the disruption are now being informed through a full list of canceled flights, which is available online. Travelers have been sharing their experiences on social media, reporting delays, unscheduled landings, and confusion at major hubs such as Seattle, Portland, and San Francisco. Reports of outages with Alaska Airlines began to surge around 9:30 p.m. EST, peaking at 10:30 p.m. and continuing to rise as of 11:45 p.m. EST, with over 400 reports documented on DownDetector.
This event marks the second major incident involving a U.S. airline in recent months that has led to a sudden halt in operations, causing significant disruptions to nationwide travel. Alaska Air Group currently operates a fleet of 238 Boeing 737 aircraft and 87 Embraer 175 planes, highlighting the scale of its operations across the western United States, Alaska, and the Pacific Northwest.
Emerging reports suggest that the current issue may be related to software problems associated with the weight balancer system. However, the airline has not yet released an official statement confirming these details. The FAA has indicated that all destinations are currently impacted, leading to fears of widespread flight cancellations and potential cascading effects throughout the national air travel system.
As of late Sunday, neither Alaska Airlines, Horizon Air, nor the FAA has responded to repeated requests for comment. The lack of clarity surrounding the cause of the ground stop has only added to the uncertainty and frustration among passengers. With the situation still evolving, travelers are advised to check for updates and consider alternative travel arrangements if necessary.
