Alaska Airlines Resumes Flights After Three-Hour IT Outage - 1

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Alaska Airlines Resumes Flights After Three-Hour IT Outage

  • Written by Andrea Miliani Former Tech News Expert
  • Fact-Checked by Sarah Frazier Former Content Manager

Alaska Airlines grounded all of its flights for three hours during an IT outage that began Sunday night and continued into Monday morning. Over 200 aircraft were ordered to remain on the ground while the situation was addressed. Operations have since resumed.

In a rush? Here are the quick facts:

  • Alaska Airlines grounded all of its flights for three hours during an IT outage.
  • The airline announced it has resumed operations, but didn’t specify the cause.
  • Its operational fleet includes 238 Boeing planes and 45 aircraft under its brand Horizon Air.

According to Reuters , this marks the second time in the past year the American carrier has had to temporarily stop operations. In April 2024, it also grounded its entire fleet due to an issue with the internal system for calculating aircraft weight and balance. The airline has not specified the cause of the most recent outage, stating only that an issue was detected and a solution has been implemented.

“At approximately 8 p.m. Pacific on July 20, we experienced an IT outage that resulted in a temporary, system-wide ground stop for Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air flights,” wrote the airline on a post shared on the social media platform X. “As of 11 p.m. Pacific, the ground stop has been lifted, and our operations have resumed.”

Multiple passengers shared videos and photos on social media showing crowded airport terminals as travelers waited for updates. “Trying to fly back to Austin from Seattle. Sea-Tac is a madhouse right now. Alaska Airlines ground stop,” wrote one user. “These crowds speak for themselves.”

Trying to fly back to Austin from Seattle. Sea-Tac is a madhouse right now. Alaska Airlines ground stop. These crowds speak for themselves. pic.twitter.com/JzQ4YdHF11 — Adam Bennett (@AdamBennettKVUE) July 21, 2025

According to the New York Times , Alaska Airlines’ operational fleet includes 238 Boeing planes and 45 aircraft under its other brand, Horizon Air—both of which were affected by the outage.

Alaska Airlines has more than 44 million customers, and serves over 120 destinations in 5 countries. It’s the fifth-largest airline in the United States.

The incident sparked controversy and tension. In addition to multiple stranded passengers who had to wait hours to resume their flights, recent cyberattacks on other airlines raise concerns about the cause of the Alaska Airlines system failure.

A few weeks ago, Hawaiian Airlines announced that its IT systems had been compromised in a cyberattack, and WestJet also reported a recent IT system breach.

Oklahoma Prisons Use AI To Improve Security And Operations - 2

Photo by Matthew Ansley on Unsplash

Oklahoma Prisons Use AI To Improve Security And Operations

  • Written by Andrea Miliani Former Tech News Expert
  • Fact-Checked by Sarah Frazier Former Content Manager

Oklahoma Department of Corrections (ODOC) Executive Director Steven Harpe said the agency is adopting artificial intelligence and using it to transform operations.

In a rush? Here are the quick facts:

  • The ODOC Executive Director said the agency is adopting artificial intelligence and using it to transform operations.
  • Harpe is focusing on direct inmate interaction and frontline security.
  • The agency is already using AI for administrative purposes

In an interview with Government Technology , Harpe explained that he has been implementing AI with a focus on direct inmate interaction and frontline security. The department is developing strategies to monitor human movement, reduce costs, optimize processes, and enhance safety and security.

“Counts [are] the most important thing we do, but it’s also … the most time-intensive. We do a count 11 times a day, and it costs the state about $64 million a year just to count inmates in the 23 prisons we have,” said Harpe to Government Technology. “Imagine if we were able to still count—not use officers—and do that through the technology, through our body cams and our mounted cameras.”

Harpe believes AI can support correctional officers by giving them more time to focus on mental health services. The ODOC has 3,600 employees overseeing approximately 46,000 individuals.

The agency is already using AI for administrative purposes, including efforts to improve the Oklahoma Correctional Industries (OCI) operations. The system identifies ways to improve workflows and streamline invoicing.

According to Harpe, AI can help correctional systems across the U.S. by automating time-consuming tasks and supporting staff efficiency.

“The future is artificial intelligence. Using AI is not about replacing people; it’s about empowering them,” said Harp in a recent statement. “In corrections, AI tools will help us enhance security, streamline operations, and make real-time data-driven decisions to ensure that we transform lives in a safe environment.”

Other correctional systems around the world have also adopted AI technology in different programs. In Finland, inmates have been working as data labelers to help train AI systems. The initiative, part of the “Smart Prison” program, was launched as a cost-effective alternative to hiring native speakers for the task.