Inconsistent table sorting state

[stephen-bracken]

Apache Airflow version

3.1.6

If "Other Airflow 3 version" selected, which one?

No response

What happened?

On the 'Task Instances' view the 'Start Date' column will not sort in descending order, only toggling between unsorted and ascending sort.

What you think should happen instead?

'Start Date' should be sortable in descending order. This is important to be able to view tasks that have been run recently at an aggregate level.

How to reproduce

run airflow standalone using default configuration

go to http://localhost:8080/task_instances

select the 'Start Date' column to toggle sorting

Operating System

Ubuntu 22.04.5 LTS

Versions of Apache Airflow Providers

apache-airflow-providers-cncf-kubernetes | 10.12.1rc1
apache-airflow-providers-common-compat | 1.12.0rc1
apache-airflow-providers-common-io | 1.7.0
apache-airflow-providers-common-sql | 1.30.2
apache-airflow-providers-smtp | 2.4.1
apache-airflow-providers-standard | 1.10.2

Deployment

Official Apache Airflow Helm Chart

Deployment details

airflow standalone running on python 3.11 virtual environment

Anything else?

OS: Mac OS Sequoia 15.7.3
Browser: Firefox 146.0

Are you willing to submit PR?

• Yes I am willing to submit a PR!

Code of Conduct

• I agree to follow this project's Code of Conduct

[stephen-bracken]

addendum: the 'Start Date' column can be sorted descending by using the url query string http://localhost:8080/task_instances?sort=-start_date, suggesting there is a problem with the html / js frontend button on the header and not something more fundamental

[anshuksi282-ksolves]

Hi, I have raised a PR to fix this issue. Please take a look when you have a moment.

[pierrejeambrun]

Tested on main and cannot reproduce. (default ordering is '-start_date, -run_after', then first click shows 'start_date' ordering, then '-start_date', Clicking a third time comes back to default ordering.

Screen.Recording.2026-01-15.at.16.55.57.mov

[stephen-bracken]

Hi @pierrejeambrun this issue appears to be specific to firefox
edit: nevermind, this also happens on chrome for me

[bbovenzi]

Yes, I see some sorting issues intermittently. I'm looking into it

[pierrejeambrun]

Ok let me know if we manage to reproduce this so we can re-open.