Travel disruptions hit airports along the US West Coast and Hawaii after tsunami warnings were issued late Tuesday, following a massive earthquake near eastern Russia. The alerts have thrown Pacific operations into disarray, causing flight delays, diversions, and cancellations across several regions. Many US airlines have halted flights to Hawaii, with some planes already in the air turning back to the mainland. Japanese airlines have also grounded flights in response to the warnings. Travelers are advised to stay updated on their flight status as the situation unfolds.
On July 29, 2025, one of the strongest earthquakes ever recorded, with a magnitude of 8.8, struck off Russia’s eastern coast at 19:24 EST. This triggered tsunami warnings across the Pacific, affecting Hawaii and Alaska’s Aleutian Islands, while coastal areas of California, Oregon, and Washington were put on alert. As the warnings spread, flight disruptions increased, especially on routes between the US mainland and Hawaii. Flights from major cities like Los Angeles, Vancouver, San Francisco, and San Diego were forced to return to their departure points. According to Flightradar24, departures to Honolulu International Airport faced delays or cancellations, and some flights were rerouted before reaching Hawaii. Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines have paused departures to Hawaii and rerouted flights as necessary, stating: “We are holding flight departures to the Islands on Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines. As a safety precaution, flights en route to Hawaii are returning to the mainland or diverting as needed. We are monitoring airport conditions with government agencies and could see operational impacts. A waiver is in place allowing guests to adjust their travel plans.”
In addition, Maui’s Kahului Airport canceled all flights Tuesday evening, leaving around 200 passengers to shelter in the terminal overnight, as reported by Hawaii’s Department of Transportation. Those who stayed at the airport will be re-screened before flights resume. CNN reported that Hilo International Airport also remained closed as of 20:30 local time. Meanwhile, baggage screening at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu was temporarily halted.
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Originally reported by Simple Flying Read More
