A Big Travel Problem Happened on July 20, 2025
On July 20, 2025, something extremely unusual occurred in the United States. Alaska Airlines, which is one of the largest airline companies in the nation, suspended all its flights for hours. This came as a shock to thousands of passengers. Travelers waiting at airports were perplexed. Aircraft were not leaving or arriving. Everybody wanted to know the same thing:
What happened?
Let’s explain it all simply, even a 10-year-old can get it.
It Was a Computer Issue – Known as an IT Outage
Alaska Airlines attributed the cause for grounding all flights as an IT outage. “IT” is short for Information Technology, which is what computer systems are also referred to as. The systems assist the airline in doing very crucial things such as:Planning and scheduling flightsFollowing planes and pilotsVerifying tickets and baggageEnsure all flights are safeWhen these computers fail, the airline must suspend flights to ensure everyone’s safety.That is what happened. Their computers crashed. And for caution, the airline requested that the FAA (the U.S. government agency responsible for air safety) ground all flights until the issue was resolved.
How Long Did the Flights Stop?
Flights came to an end at approximately 8 p.m. Pacific Time on July 20. That is late night in California and surrounding states. The computers had not been functioning for approximately three hours.The problem was resolved by around 11 p.m., Alaska Airlines reported, and aircraft could begin to take off again.But delays did not stop.
Several Passengers Struggled After That
Although the planes were permitted to take off again, most passengers ended up waiting longer at the airport. Flights remained delayed, and a few were canceled. The airline had to reposition planes and crews.Suppose your teacher suddenly asks everyone to quit working and remain still in the middle of a school test. Even once everything is repaired, it takes awhile to begin again. That’s what occurred to the airline.Individuals missed onward flights. Some were stranded at an airport overnight. The airline apologized and instructed individuals to monitor their flight status online first before heading to the airport.
This Is Not the First Time
It is not the first time Alaska Airlines have been forced to suspend flights.They suspended all flights in April 2024 because there was a computer issue with calculating how heavy the plane and passengers were. And only last month, in June 2025, Hawaiian Airlines (which is a sister airline) was hit by a cyberattack.These incidents indicate just how reliant airlines are on computers today. When something malfunctions, it can impact millions of people within a matter of minutes.
A Tweet Went Viral – “Every. Single. Plane. Grounded.
“Online platform X (formerly known as Twitter) was filled with people discussing this large problem. One trending tweet said:> “???? BREAKING: ALASKA AIRLINES JUST GROUNDED EVERY SINGLE PLANE – NATIONWIDE SHUTDOWN.”Folks were amazed. Some believed it was an act of nature. Others worried about a cyberattack. But the airline assured everyone that it was not a hacker attack or an act of nature. It was a technical malfunction—a glitch in their own computer systems.
What is the FAA and Why Did They Help?
FAA stands for Federal Aviation Administration. FAA is the group that keeps flying safe in the United States. They work with all airlines to monitor:Air traffic controlSafety of planesLicenses of pilotsEmergency proceduresWhen Alaska Airlines reported the issue to the FAA, the FAA ensured that no airplanes from Alaska could leave the ground until it was safe again. That’s a good decision to keep passengers safe.
How Big is Alaska Airlines?
Alaska Airlines is among the biggest airlines in America. They travel to over 120 destinations, and their hubs are based in cities such as:SeattlePortlandSan FranciscoLos AngelesAnchorageThey have more than 325 airplanes, including large jets like the Boeing 737 and small ones like the Embraer 175. Therefore, when they halt flights, many airports get impacted.
What Can We Learn from This?
- This incident teaches us a few things:
- 1. Airlines rely greatly on technology. A small hiccup and big headaches ensue.
- 2. Safety above all. Even if flights must be grounded every time, it’s better to be safe than sorry.
- 3. Always double-check your flight status before heading out to the airport.
- 4. If you are flying, bring some snacks, water, and a power bank—you never know when you may get stuck.
Is the Problem Fully Fixed Now?
Yes, Alaska Airlines reported that their systems were resolved later in the day on July 20. Flights resumed on July 21. However, the airline cautioned that some flights may still be delayed or canceled as they play catch-up with their schedule.They also stated they are looking into what went wrong in the computer failure and will take steps to ensure that it does not happen again.
What to Do if Your Flight Was Disrupted?
In case your flight was delayed or canceled, do the following:Check your email or app for updatesKeep your receipts if you paid for a meal or lodging—Alaska can reimburse youRequest rebook or refund through the carrier’s help desk or websiteBe nice—the airline staff is doing their best to assist everyone
Conclusion
The grounding of Alaska Airlines flight on July 20, 2025, was a stark reminder of how much we rely on technology. It also revealed that even large corporations such as airlines can encounter issues.But the silver lining is: Nobody was injured. The problem was resolved within a few hours. Flights are resumed againAlaska Airlines assured that they will learn from this and make their systems better. Hopefully, it will not happen again soon.If you are planning to travel soon, just keep in mind: check your flight status, pack a few essentials, and be patient.
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