Global Tech Outage Halts Flights Across the US and Worldwide Due to Cybersecurity Software Failure
Fiona Nanna, ForeMedia News
5 minutes read. Updated 10:00AM GMT Fri, 19July, 2024
A widespread technology outage has led to significant flight disruptions across the United States and beyond, affecting major airlines and leaving thousands of travelers stranded. The issue, attributed to a faulty software update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike, has also impacted banks and emergency services globally.
Delta Airlines, the second largest airline in the world by passenger numbers, was forced to ground all flights due to the communication breakdown. American Airlines initially halted its flights but has since resumed operations. CrowdStrike has issued an apology, stating that the issue “has been identified, isolated, and a fix has been deployed.” However, the timeline for full resolution remains unclear.
The global nature of the outage has caused chaos for travelers worldwide. Stephanie Thompson, an American tourist, found herself unable to return to Dallas after a vacation in the UK. Speaking from Edinburgh Airport, she expressed her frustration: “We couldn’t get an answer from anybody. I was on hold with American Airlines for about an hour and 10 minutes before I finally hung up. We just paid $6,800 for a one-way trip home, hopefully leaving tonight. I didn’t know what else to do. I just wanted something to get us home.”
In Los Angeles, a spokeswoman for LAX confirmed that while some flights were operational, the primary impact was on airlines rather than the airport itself. United Airlines and several smaller carriers also reported significant disruptions.
The first signs of the issue emerged late on Thursday when Frontier Airlines, a US low-cost carrier, announced a major “technical outage” affecting its operations. US Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg commented on the situation, noting that his department was “monitoring technical issues at Frontier that were leading to cancellations and delays across their network.”
The ramifications of the outage have been felt worldwide, with over 1,300 flights canceled. Airports and airlines in Japan, India, and the Netherlands have reported similar issues. At Japan’s Narita Airport, carriers such as JetStar, Jeju Air, Qantas, HK Express, and Spring Japan have experienced system failures. Delhi Airport in India and Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport have also reported delays and disruptions.
A spokesperson for Schiphol Airport stated, “The outage has an impact on flights flying from and to Schiphol,” though the extent of the impact remains uncertain.
