Delta delays drag on: Microsoft glitch grounds 3,500+ flights, 1000s stranded

In a major setback, airlines worldwide, including Delta Air Lines, are struggling to get back on track after a faulty software update led to a massive technology failure. This unexpected glitch has led to a massive disruption, grounding flights and leaving passengers stranded.

The chaos commenced on Friday when a cybersecurity firm’s faulty security update triggered a global IT outage, causing Microsoft Windows computers to crash.

This incident, described as one of the worst IT outages in history, impacted a staggering 8.5 million computers worldwide. The repercussions were felt across various sectors, including businesses, banks, hospitals, and airlines.

According to FlightAware, a top aviation tracking platform, reported that 1,461 flights within, into, or out of the U.S. were canceled on Sunday. Delta and United Airlines were hit hardest, causing major disruptions for many passengers.

Delta Chief Executive Ed Bastian addressed the ongoing crisis in a message to customers,  admitting the airline’s struggles to fix their systems and get back to normal. He said that over 3,500 Delta and Delta Connection flights were canceled. To help affected passengers, Delta is offering waivers.

One of the major hurdles for Delta has been the breakdown of an important tool for tracking crew, which couldn’t handle the many changes caused by the system outage.

According to AP News , Bastian expressed his regret over the situation, stating, “The technology issue occurred on the busiest travel weekend of the summer, with our booked loads exceeding 90%, limiting our re-accommodation capabilities. I want to apologize to every one of you who have been impacted by these events.”

Government scrutiny and accountability

The widespread disruption did not go unnoticed by government officials. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg talked with Bastian on Sunday about Delta’s many cancellations. The Transportation Department stressed that Delta must refund passengers whose flights were canceled and who chose not to rebook, as reported by ABC News .

Buttigieg made a strong statement regarding the expectations for airlines during such crises. “I have made clear to Delta that we expect the airline to provide prompt refunds to consumers who choose not to be rebooked, and free rebooking and timely reimbursements for food and overnight hotel stays to consumers affected by the delays and cancellations, as well as adequate customer service assistance to all of their passengers,” he said.

He further stressed the need for adequate customer service, stating, “No one should be stranded at an airport overnight or stuck on hold for hours waiting to talk to a customer service agent. I will ensure that our department supports Delta passengers by enforcing all applicable passenger protections.”

Meanwhile, the cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike, whose faulty update initiated the global chaos, announced that a significant number of the affected devices were back online. In a social media post, the company acknowledged the disruption and expressed gratitude towards their customers and partners.

“We understand the profound impact this has had on everyone. We know our customers, partners, and their IT teams are working tirelessly, and we’re profoundly grateful,” CrowdStrike said . “We apologize for the disruption this has created.”

CrowdStrike also mentioned they are rolling out a new fix to speed up computer recovery. However, the firm did not specify the exact number of devices still impacted.

The fallout from the outage extended beyond the airline industry. Health services in Britain, Israel, and Germany experienced disruptions, with some services being canceled. The incident has highlighted the vulnerability of global computer networks, showcasing how a single glitch can cause widespread chaos.

Wider implications of the IT outage

The huge outage has shown how delicate our interconnected systems are in today’s digital world.

As reported by BBC , Lina Khan, Chair of the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, weighed in on the issue, stating, “All too often these days, a single glitch results in a system-wide outage, affecting industries from healthcare and airlines to banks and auto dealers. These incidents reveal how concentration can create fragile systems.”

Despite this incident, CrowdStrike remains one of the most trusted brands in the cybersecurity industry. The firm has 29,000 customers worldwide, including many big U.S. companies. Although its reputation has suffered, it is still working hard to fix the issues and return to normal.

Interestingly, one major economy that remained largely unaffected by the outage was China. CrowdStrike is not widely used in the country, and China is less reliant on Microsoft compared to the rest of the world, sparing it from the brunt of the disruption.