Tsunami Chaos: Flights Canceled as Powerful Quake Strikes Near Russia
How did your country report this? Share your view in the comments.
Diverging Reports Breakdown
Tsunami Warnings Disrupt US-Hawaii Flights After Major Earthquake
Several US airlines suspended flights to Hawaii, and some en-route aircraft returned to the mainland. Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines both held departures to Hawaii and diverted en route flights as needed. All flights to and from Maui’s Kahului Airport were canceled Tuesday evening, with around 200 passengers sheltering in the terminal overnight. Maui Airport and Hilo International Airport remained closed as of 20:30 local time. In Japan, tsunami warnings were also issued along the Pacific coast, where cities were placed on high alert for waves of up to three meters. At Sendai Airport, which is located near the coastline, all runways were closed by 10:15 local time, according to airport authorities. At least 11 Japan Airlines flights were canceled across the network, and approximately 87 were delayed as the disruption continued to affect broader operations across Japan. The alerts have disrupted operations across the Pacific, with flight delays, diversions, and cancellations now affecting multiple regions.
Several US airlines suspended flights to Hawaii, and some en-route aircraft returned to the mainland. Japanese carriers have also canceled flights in response to the warnings. Passengers are being urged to check their flight status as the situation continues to develop.
Tsunami Warnings Disrupt Flights Between The US Mainland And Hawaii
Photo: Tada Images | Shutterstock
One of the most powerful earthquakes ever recorded, measuring 8.8 in magnitude, struck off the eastern coast of Russia on Tuesday, July 29, 2025. It occurred around 19:24 EST and led to tsunami warnings being issued across several parts of the Pacific.
According to The Travel, Hawaii and Alaska’s Aleutian Islands were placed under official tsunami warnings, while coastal areas of California, Oregon, and Washington were put on watch. As alerts expanded, flight disruptions mounted across the Pacific, particularly on routes connecting the mainland United States and Hawaii.
Flights from Los Angeles, Vancouver, San Francisco, and San Diego were turned back to their departure airports late Tuesday. According to Flightradar24, departures to Honolulu International Airport were delayed or canceled across multiple airlines, while some in-air flights were diverted before reaching the islands. Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines both held departures to Hawaii and diverted en route flights as needed. At the time, both airlines said in a statement:
“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.”
Maui Airport And Hilo Airport Were Closed Following The Warnings
Photo: bluestork | Shutterstock
Furthermore, all flights to and from Maui’s Kahului Airport were canceled Tuesday evening, with around 200 passengers sheltering in the terminal overnight, according to Hawaii’s Department of Transportation. The agency said that those who remained at the airport would be re-screened before departures resume.
As reported by CNN, Hilo International Airport also remained closed as of 20:30 local time. At Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu, baggage screening operations were temporarily suspended before resuming later in the evening. Inter-island and transpacific flights at Honolulu were rescheduled throughout the evening due to operational delays.
Hawaiian Airlines, which had earlier paused departures to Hawaii and diverted some inbound flights, has since resumed operations. Meanwhile, Alaska Airlines will resume operations earlier on Wednesday, July 30. Both carriers are offering travel waivers for affected passengers flying between July 29 and 30. They may reschedule their flights without penalty or cancel and receive credit toward future travel. Travelers have been advised to confirm flight status before heading to the airport.
Related Storms Cause Misery For New York Travelers Major airports grind to a halt as severe weather disrupts the region’s transportation network.
Sendai Airport Sees Dozens Of Cancellations Amid Tsunami Alerts In Japan
Photo: KoreaKHW | Shutterstock
The effects of the earthquake extended beyond the United States and Hawaii. In Japan, tsunami warnings were also issued along the Pacific coast, where cities were placed on high alert for waves of up to three meters. At Sendai Airport, which is located near the coastline, all runways were closed by 10:15 local time, according to airport authorities.
At the time of writing, according to Flightaware data, a total of 17 departures and 14 arrivals had been canceled at Sendai Airport. The cancellations include flights operated by Japan Airlines, All Nippon Airways (ANA), and ANA Wings. At least 11 Japan Airlines flights were canceled across the network, and approximately 87 flights were delayed as the disruption continued to affect broader operations across Japan.
Additionally, international carriers such as HK Express and EVA Air suspended Sendai services scheduled for July 30.
Source: https://simpleflying.com/tsunami-warnings-hawaii-travel-chaos/