Yakima Stranded Passengers Spend Night at Airport
Alaska Airlines Flight 322 landed in Yakima after weather diverted it from Seattle, leaving 127 passengers and eight crew overnight.
Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in Air Travel
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Alaska Airlines Flight 322, traveling from Dallas-Fort Worth to Seattle-Tacoma, landed at Yakima Air Terminal around 9:25 p.m. on Saturday, November 7, after severe weather over western Washington forced it to abandon its approach. A faulty fuel indicator required a maintenance inspection, keeping 127 passengers and eight crew members in the terminal overnight.
Why it matters
The stranded travelers were left without hotel accommodations or food vouchers from the airline, relying on relief and vendor support in a regional airport. The episode highlights how severe weather and a mechanical fault can combine to leave passengers stranded far from their destination.
The flight was operated by a Boeing 737-900ER and carried 127 passengers and eight crew members. The plane departed Yakima at 2:02 p.m. Sunday, roughly 17 hours after landing, once a maintenance crew from Seattle cleared the aircraft.
The players
Alaska Airlines
Alaska Airlines is a major U.S. airline based in Seattle that operates flights across North America and is known for its Pacific Northwest network.
Horizon Air
Horizon Air is a regional carrier owned by Alaska Airlines that operates short-haul flights in the Pacific Northwest.
American Red Cross
The American Red Cross is a nonprofit humanitarian organization that provides disaster relief and emergency assistance across the United States.
The details
Dispatchers discovered the fuel indicator fault while preparing to refuel, requiring inspection before the plane could continue. The American Red Cross delivered cots, blankets and water to the terminal, while Horizon Air provided food for the stranded travelers.
Timeline
Saturday, November 7, around 9:25 p.m.: Flight 322 lands at Yakima Air Terminal.
Sunday, November 8, morning: Maintenance crew from Seattle inspects the aircraft.
Sunday, November 8, 2:02 p.m.: Flight 322 departs Yakima for Sea-Tac.
Travel Outlook
Diversions to secondary airports such as Yakima occur when Seattle-Tacoma weather forces aircraft elsewhere, a pattern that shapes how travelers plan connections through the Pacific Northwest. Stranded passengers in such events typically depend on airline and relief-agency support, since the origin of the delay limits what travelers can book on their own.
Travelers connecting through Seattle-Tacoma during winter weather should check whether their airline offers hotel or meal assistance before a diversion occurs. Passengers diverted to smaller airports may need to rely on relief organizations if the carrier does not provide accommodations.
The takeaway
Stranded travelers should keep phone chargers, medications and essentials in carry-on bags, since diversions can leave them overnight without accommodations. Confirming airline assistance policies before travel can ease the burden of an unexpected overnight stay.
Further reading
For more on how weather disrupts flights, see Air Travel coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by NEWStalk 870.
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