I think most of us appreciate when pilots communicate transparently with passengers, especially in situations where there are irregular operations. However, this has to be one of the strangest ramblings I’ve ever heard, and I’m not sure what exactly was going through the captain’s head.
Captain overshares during irregular operations
On March 21, 2026, Alaska Airlines flight AS617 from Liberia (LIR) to Los Angeles (LAX) was canceled after all passengers boarded, and the plane started taxiing to the runway. The flight was operated by a Boeing 737-900ER, and was scheduled to depart Costa Rica at 6:12PM, and land in the United States at 11:30PM.
The plane started taxiing out to the runway, only to then return to a gate. At that point, the captain made the following announcement (which is sort of all the context we have):
“This flight was less than an hour delayed, and then when I get here, the gate agents are frantic about getting us out as soon as possible to get us up to LA, because customs closes, which is the first I’ve heard of this. I’ve been flying for 30 years, I’ve never heard of the number two city in the country closing its customs.”
“So we got a message, a cryptic message from dispatch, while we were taxiing down, ready for takeoff, saying that the bridge wants us back here to the airport, and I don’t know what bridge means and so we don’t have a jetway, I’m trying to figure out what’s going on, I hope it’s not the worst case scenario, and I cannot believe that LAX has no customs after midnight.”
“But anyway, let me get back to you about what I can find out again we don’t have a jetway there’s no stairs, so um, I do apologize for this, I think we’re in the dark but I’m keeping you guys updated. I’m not sure if it’s government or company, I don’t, I don’t get it, I don’t get it any more than anyone else but that’s all I know, people I guess, we got the stairs right now, and we’ve got people connecting to hotels, or wherever we go from here. I mean I’ve even flown over 9/11, this is still the weirdest thing that I’ve ever experienced, so anyway, we’ll hopefully get more answers of where we go from here.”
I guess this was well intentioned, but what on earth?!
It’s incredibly frustrating when there are irregular operations and there’s no communication about what’s going on. But this captain is the opposite extreme, and almost has a stream of consciousness approach to her rambling announcement.
It’s great to share useful information with passengers, and transparency is important. But bringing up “cryptic” messages, 9/11, and talking about getting a message about “the bridge” when you as the captain don’t even know what’s going on, just doesn’t seem like a best practice.
And before anyone says I’m overreacting here, just look at the response from passengers, and in particular, about how they believe they’re better safe than sorry, as if there was any sort of a safety issue. Pilots should act as professional representatives of the company, and while it’s fair to share that you don’t have all the information, it seems unnecessary to share messages that you’re receiving when you don’t even know what they mean.
Also, I’m confused by a captain who has been flying for decades being confused about customs facilities having limited hours. A lot of customs facilities at major airports don’t operate 24/7. I’m not sure if something changed, but as recently as last year, TBIT customs was only open from 5AM until 12AM daily, so Alaska really is cutting it close with this schedule.
It looks like Alaska only added this late night arrival into LAX as of December 2025, and almost all of the flights have operated on schedule. So the captain’s confusion is confusing me. This seems like a simple case of missing the customs deadline, and that happens when schedules are cut this close.
Bottom line
An Alaska Airlines flight from Liberia to Los Angeles ended up being canceled after the flight left the gate, seemingly because it would’ve missed the customs deadline, as this flight cuts it really close (at least that’s my understanding).
The captain didn’t seem to grasp that concept, and claimed she was receiving cryptic messages, mentioned she received a message about the “the bridge” (which she didn’t understand), and said that this was the strangest thing that has ever happened to her, including compared to flying on 9/11.
As I see it, announcements from pilots should be about transparency and reassurance, and not… well, whatever this is.
What’s your take on this strange situation?