Alaska Airlines experienced a system issue that calculates weight and balance of their planes, causing all flights to be grounded for about an hour on Wednesday morning. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) canceled the ground stop once the issue was resolved. The ground stop affected all Alaska Airlines departures as well as Horizon Air, a regional carrier owned by Alaska Air Group. The halt was implemented around 7:50 am PT and was lifted after around an hour, leading to expected residual flight delays throughout the day.
The problem was caused by an issue during an upgrade to the weight and balance calculation system. Alaska Airlines apologized for the inconvenience caused to passengers due to the flight delays. Despite the short halt in departures, the airline assured that efforts were being made to get flights moving as soon as possible. In response to passenger complaints on social media, Alaska Airlines confirmed that they were actively working on resolving the situation to minimize disruptions for passengers.
As a result of the airline’s request, the FAA had paused Alaska Airlines’ mainline departures nationwide until the issue with the weight and balance system was resolved. This led to a slight decline in the shares of Alaska Air Group, the parent company of Alaska Airlines. However, shares rebounded after the ground stop was canceled, with the Alaska Air Group shares gaining 2.6% following the resolution of the issue. The monitoring of the weight and balance systems on aircraft is crucial for ensuring the safety of flights and passengers, which was highlighted in this incident.
Following the ground stop for Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air, the FAA excluded flights for SkyWest, which provides regional service for Alaska Airlines and other carriers, from being impacted by the issue. This exemption allowed SkyWest flights to continue as scheduled while the system issue was addressed. The coordination between airline operators, the FAA, and other regional carriers helped in managing the disruption caused by the weight and balance calculation problem. These types of issues are not uncommon in the aviation industry, and quick resolution is essential to minimize the impact on operations and passengers.
In conclusion, the brief halt in Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air departures due to a weight and balance system issue was quickly resolved by the airline and the FAA. Passengers were informed about the situation, and efforts were made to minimize flight disruptions throughout the day. Excluding SkyWest flights from the ground stop allowed for a smoother operation for the regional carrier amid the system problem. The incident highlighted the importance of regular system maintenance and upgrades in the aviation industry to ensure the safety and efficiency of flights. Despite the temporary inconvenience for passengers, the situation was swiftly addressed, and flights were back on schedule after the issue was resolved.
