FAA Issues Ground Stop Advisory for Alaska Airlines

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a ground stop advisory on Wednesday for all mainline and subcarrier flights operated by Alaska Airlines. This action was taken in response to an IT issue encountered during an upgrade to the airline's flight weight and balance calculation system.

“This morning we experienced an issue while performing an upgrade to the system that calculates our weight and balance”, said Alaska Airlines in a statement. As a result, the airline initiated a ground stop for all Alaska and Horizon flights around 7:50 am PT.

Though the FAA did not immediately disclose the reason for the stoppage, CNBC reported that the problem likely stemmed from the IT glitch. 

The ground stop advisory excludes flights operated by SkyWest, which provides regional service for Alaska Airlines and other carriers.

This incident coincides with increased scrutiny in the aviation industry. On the same day, a Boeing whistleblower testified before Congress, calling for the grounding of Boeing's 787 Dreamliner aircraft due to safety concerns. This follows recent incidents, including a door detachment from a Boeing plane mid-flight in January, prompting heightened attention from airlines and regulators alike.

Alaska Airlines and the FAA have not provided further details regarding the duration of the ground stop or th3 expected timeline for resuming normal operations.