If you’re traveling this Halloween weekend, don’t be surprised to see some extra security presence at the airport. Even pilots are being told to stay alert.
One of my readers sent me an internal Alaska Airlines memo that went out to all pilots this week. The message from the airline’s Security Committee was dated October 29, 2025 and titled simply “Security Update.” Here’s the full text:
A message from the Security Committee
October 29, 2025Alaska Pilots,
As the holiday travel season approaches, your vigilance is critical to keeping our passengers, crew and aircraft safe.
Reports indicate that this weekend, specifically October 30th, “Mischief Night,” public protests are planned and may include activities at airports with coordinated efforts noted in cities like Seattle, WA and Portland, OR.
Additionally, the continued government shutdown and the expired funding of services effective November 1st have the potential for large public protests as well.
As pilots, your focus should be on safe and secure operations in all aspects of our work.
Please stay alert for any unusual behavior or activity and report concerns promptly to your flight operations team and your respective MEC Security Committee.
The following Security Committee members will be on-call to assist if you encounter any security issues or have any questions.
It’s not every day that an airline sends out a broad security reminder like this. With Halloween weekend, organized protests and a government funding lapse, Alaska wants its crews to stay sharp.
For travelers, this isn’t a cause for panic. It’s just a good reminder to plan ahead and expect heavier security at major West Coast airports this weekend. If you’re flying through Seattle or Portland, get to the airport early and stay flexible.
I have to admit the phrase “Mischief Night” brought back some memories. Growing up in Connecticut, we called it Devil’s Night and our version was pretty tame. Doorbell ditching at 6 p.m., a few toilet-papered trees, maybe a shaving cream prank. Nothing like airport protests or security alerts.
These days, with doorbell cameras and smartphones everywhere, that kind of neighborhood mischief has mostly disappeared. Maybe that’s progress or maybe it’s just a sign of the times.
