More than 120 passengers and crew aboard Alaska Airlines Flight 322, a Boeing 737-900ER traveling from Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, were diverted to Yakima Air Terminal on Saturday evening. The aircraft landed at Yakima at approximately 9:25 pm following the flight crew’s aborted approach to Seattle due to severe wind storms affecting the Seattle corridor.
Upon arrival at Yakima Air Terminal, ground engineers discovered a faulty fuel indicator during routine checks. This mechanical issue caused the aircraft to be grounded overnight, preventing it from continuing its journey until repairs were completed and the system certified safe
for operation.
With Alaska Airlines categorizing the diversion as weather-related, the airline invoked federal guidelines that exempt carriers from providing hotel accommodations during extreme weather events. Local hotels and rental car agencies near Yakima Air Terminal were closed or inaccessible at the time, leaving passengers without access to lodging or ground transportation facilities.
Christopher Hopkins, Director of Yakima Air Terminal, highlighted the urgency of the situation, stating, “We realised quickly that with over 130 people stranded and local hotels completely inaccessible at that hour, we needed immediate emergency intervention to maintain basic comfort and safety.” Yakima County Office of Emergency
Management, led by Tony Miller, coordinated promptly with the American Red Cross to supply the terminal with emergency cots, blankets, infant formula, and drinking water to support stranded passengers and crew.
Horizon Air, the regional sister carrier to Alaska Airlines, provided emergency meal provisions during the overnight stay. Local volunteers and emergency personnel assisted through the night, ensuring vulnerable travellers, including families with young children and elderly passengers, received adequate care and bedding within the terminal building.
A specialized maintenance team from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport arrived by road early Sunday morning to inspect and certify the fuel indicator. The Boeing
737-900ER was cleared for departure shortly before midday. Flight 322 pushed back from Yakima Air Terminal at 2:02 pm and landed safely in Seattle later that day, concluding a delay of approximately 16 hours.
A senior aviation passenger rights advocate commended the swift response, saying, “The prompt mobilisation of community resources by county emergency managers and the Red Cross prevented a difficult weather diversion from escalating into a severe humanitarian breakdown.” The incident exposes challenges for airlines and regional airport infrastructure managing simultaneous weather and mechanical disruptions, reigniting discussions on airline accountability and passenger rights during such complex diversions.
