Delta Air Lines experienced a global cyber outage that led to the cancellation of more than 700 flights on Monday. This has affected approximately 19% of Delta’s flights, totaling around 1,300 flights to or from the US. The issue has left thousands of Delta travelers stranded across the country, with some resorting to renting cars to reach their destinations. The Atlanta-based airline has struggled to recover from the outage, with over 5,000 flights canceled since Friday.
The cyber outage was triggered by a software update from global cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike, affecting Microsoft customers including airlines. While many US airlines have managed to recover from the incident, Delta continues to face challenges in returning to normal operations. American Airlines and United Airlines had fewer cancellations in comparison to Delta. Delta CEO Ed Bastian explained that the issue affected their Microsoft Windows systems, specifically a crew tracking-related tool, resulting in difficulties processing system shutdown changes.
Despite efforts to adjust schedules to ensure safety, Delta has faced criticism from Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg in reminding the carrier of its responsibilities to customers and the Department of Transportation’s role in enforcement. Crowdstrike reported that a significant number of the 8.5 million affected Microsoft devices were back online, indicating some progress in resolving the issue. However, Delta’s shares were down nearly 2% on Monday as the airline continued to struggle with operational challenges.
As the situation unfolds, Delta remains focused on restoring normal operations and addressing the needs of affected passengers. Staff are working to resolve the issues caused by the system shutdown and to accommodate passengers whose flights have been cancelled. With thousands of travelers impacted by the outage, the airline faces a significant challenge in rerouting passengers and resuming normal activities. The recovery efforts are ongoing, with Delta prioritizing safety and customer service in their response to the cyber incident.
Overall, Delta Air Lines has been heavily impacted by the global cyber outage caused by a software update, leading to a high number of flight cancellations and significant disruptions to operations. As the airline works to recover from the incident, they are facing criticism from Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and dealing with passenger dissatisfaction due to stranded travelers. Despite these challenges, Delta is committed to resolving the issues caused by the cyberattack and ensuring the safety and well-being of its customers.
