Alaska Airlines announced Sunday night the complete suspension of its flights. The measure also applies to Horizon Air, its regional airline. Everything was due to a computer failure that paralyzed operations.
The interruption began around 8:00 p.m. Pacific Time. From that moment on, no Alaska or Horizon flight was able to take off. The company confirmed it in a statement sent to media outlets such as CNN.
The situation caused chaos at airports, long lines at counters, and a great deal of uncertainty. Many travelers learned about the problem while already at terminals or in the process of boarding.
What caused the suspension?
The airline was clear about one thing: the cause was a technical failure. However, it did not go into details. It is not known whether it was an error in flight control systems, reservations, or a more serious vulnerability.
On its official channels, Alaska Airlines posted that a "temporary ground stop" had been requested until the problem is solved.
This stop affects both domestic and regional flights. Horizon Air, which mainly operates in the northwest of the country and in Alaska, was also paralyzed.
The FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) confirmed that the request to stop flights was made around 10:52 p.m. Eastern Time. This shows the seriousness of the incident.
Warning: delays will continue
Although the technical failure is already under review, the company warned that the effects will be felt throughout the night and probably on Monday.
"We apologize to our users for this inconvenience. Operations will continue to be impacted in the coming hours," the official statement says.
Many passengers have reported cancellations, reschedulings, and a lack of clear information. The airline recommends checking the status of each flight before going to the airport. In addition, they advise staying informed through their social media and website.
What should passengers do now?
If you have a flight with Alaska Airlines or Horizon Air in the coming hours, the most prudent thing is to constantly check for updates. Do not go to the airport without confirmation.
It is also a good idea to have your reservation number handy, check your email, and enable notifications from the airline's app.
In situations like this, restoration can take hours. Even if the systems start working again soon, crews, planes, and schedules need to be reorganized. That's why the residual effects can last all the following day.