On the evening of Thursday, October 24, 2025, Alaska Airlines implemented an unprecedented nationwide pause on all of its flights, citing a significant and unforeseen technological malfunction that disrupted the airline’s operational systems. The decision, which affected travelers across the United States, reflected the extent and seriousness of the outage, compelling the carrier to temporarily suspend departures in the interest of safety and system reliability. According to an official statement from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the disruption also extended to the airline’s regional subsidiary, Horizon Air, which was likewise subject to a coordinated ground stop lasting more than two hours.
This incident marks the second major information technology breakdown the airline has experienced within the same calendar year. The previous disruption occurred in July, when a similar systems failure forced Alaska Airlines to ground flights nationwide. Such repeated events underscore not only the complexity but also the fragility of the technology frameworks underpinning large-scale aviation operations. When a system-wide outage takes place, the impact reverberates through every layer of the company—from flight scheduling and maintenance tracking to passenger communication and logistics coordination.
In its public communication, released via social media, Alaska Airlines acknowledged the ongoing IT difficulties and apologized for the considerable inconvenience experienced by passengers. The airline affirmed that it was undertaking rapid troubleshooting efforts to identify and address the root cause of the malfunction. The statement read: “Alaska Airlines is experiencing an IT outage affecting operations. A temporary ground stop is in place. We apologize for the inconvenience.” This concise message attempted to balance operational transparency with the urgency of restoring service as swiftly as possible.
Operating primarily from its hub on the West Coast, Alaska Airlines services more than 140 destinations across 37 U.S. states as well as 12 international locations, connecting travelers to a broad network that spans North America and beyond. Consequently, the scale of Thursday evening’s disruption had far-reaching consequences, triggering flight cancellations and delays that would extend across numerous airports and time zones. Despite immediate requests for further clarification, representatives for Alaska Airlines were not available to provide additional comments to Business Insider at the time of reporting.
As the situation continues to unfold, Alaska Airlines remains focused on stabilizing its systems, resuming routine operations, and maintaining communication with affected customers. This developing story exemplifies the growing importance of robust digital infrastructure in modern aviation—where even a brief lapse in technological functionality can ripple outward, affecting thousands of travelers and highlighting the critical dependency of air travel on reliable IT systems. Readers are advised to check back for continuing updates as more details emerge regarding the cause and resolution of this outage.
Sourse: https://www.businessinsider.com/alaska-airlines-grounds-all-flights-nationwide-after-tech-outage-2025-10
