Alaska Airlines Serving LAX Passengers Holding on Ground During Customs Computer Malfunction

A U.S. Customs and Border Protection computer malfunction affecting all international flights arriving after about 1:30 p.m. yesterday at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) has prevented Alaska Airlines passengers from deplaning and going through customs. The following flights with a total of 976 passengers onboard were impacted:

  -- Flight 207 - La Paz-Los Angeles - arrived 4:33 p.m.
  -- Flight 283 - Mazatlan-Los Angeles - arrived 4:36 p.m.
  -- Flight 291 - Puerto Vallarta-Los Angeles - arrived 5:18 p.m.
  -- Flight 277 - Los Cabos-Los Angeles - arrived 5:58 p.m.
  -- Flight 211 - Zihuatanejo/Ixtapa-Los Angeles - arrived 6:25 p.m.
  -- Flight 289 - Los Cabos-Los Angeles - arrived 7:35 p.m.
  -- Flight 231 - Mexico City-Los Angeles - arrived 8:05 p.m.

An eighth aircraft, Flight 225 from Cancun to Los Angeles, was diverted to San Diego, where passengers went through customs. The flight departed again for Los Angeles and arrived at 11:09 p.m on Saturday.

During the holding period for aircraft at LAX, all airplane lavatories have been serviced and the airline has provided food and beverages to passengers. Diapers and baby formula also have been delivered to the aircraft, as well as extra pillows and blankets.

Flights 207 and 283 were released by customs officials to deplane at 9:50 p.m. and 10:15 p.m. respectively on Saturday and passengers on these flights are currently proceeding through customs. The airline expects the remaining five flights to be released by customs officials within the next three hours.

"We will deplane remaining passengers as soon as customs officials allow us to do so and continue to do all we can in the meantime to keep passengers onboard these aircraft comfortable," said Glenn Johnson, Alaska’s executive vice president of airport services and maintenance and engineering.

The airline also is working to reschedule passengers who missed their connecting flights due to the ground hold.

Alaska Airlines and sister carrier, Horizon Air, together serve 92 cities through an expansive network throughout Alaska, the Lower 48, Canada and Mexico. For reservations visit alaskaair.com. For more news and information, visit the Alaska Airlines/Horizon Air Newsroom at alaskaair.com/newsroom.

SOURCE: Alaska Airlines