Friday, October 24, 2025-Alaska Airlines is gradually restoring operations after a major computer outage forced the airline to ground every flight across the United States early Friday. The technical failure, which began before dawn, disrupted scheduling and communication systems, leaving passengers stranded at airports from Seattle to Los Angeles.
The airline confirmed that a “network-wide systems disruption” was responsible and said crews worked through the morning to bring systems back online. More than 200 flights were delayed or canceled, according to tracking data, marking one of the carrier’s most significant operational meltdowns in recent years.
Frustrated travelers flooded social media with images of crowded terminals and long queues, some describing the scene as “organized chaos.” Many passengers expressed disbelief that a single outage could halt the entire airline’s operations.
Transportation officials said they were monitoring the situation closely, while Alaska Airlines issued multiple apologies and offered free rebooking options to affected customers. Aviation analysts noted that similar system crashes have increasingly plagued major U.S. carriers, raising concerns about outdated IT infrastructure and the lack of redundancy in airline networks.
As flights begin to resume, Alaska Airlines faces the challenge of rebuilding trust and addressing the ripple effects of the shutdown, including lost connections and crew scheduling chaos. The company announced plans to conduct a full investigation and promised “system improvements to prevent recurrence.”
Industry experts say the incident underscores the fragility of modern aviation systems where a few lines of broken code can ground an entire fleet. For passengers left sleeping on airport floors, the return to normal operations can’t come soon enough.
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