Global IT Disruption Causes Flight Delays and Cancellations
On July 19, 2024, a global IT disruption caused by a Microsoft outage and a Crowdstrike IT problem resulted in widespread flight delays and cancellations across the world. The disruption affected various airlines, including major carriers like American Airlines, Delta, and United, causing chaos at airports worldwide.
What Happened?
The incident began when cybersecurity giant Crowdstrike experienced a major disruption linked to a tech update. This was followed by a system error in Microsoft’s technology, causing widespread disruptions to apps and services used by a large number of firms. The blue screen of death, a screensaver-style error message, was displayed on flight update and check-in monitors at airports worldwide.
Airline Responses
Several airlines halted flights, while others warned of delays and service disruptions. American Airlines, Delta, and United issued statements outlining the impact on their flight schedules and services. Some airlines, like KLM, reported that their IT issues had been "almost completely resolved," while others, like Air France, said their operations were "back to normal on the entire network."
Passenger Experiences
Passengers were left stranded, delayed, or rescheduled, with some airlines offering waivers to allow customers to change their travel plans. Colby Black, 45, was one of the affected passengers, saying, "It says 8 a.m. on the board, but 9 a.m. on my app, so who knows… I’m just tired. I want to sleep."
Airport Updates
Airport authorities worldwide worked to manage the disruptions. In Europe, the Dutch airport Schiphol reported a significant impact, with many flights delayed or canceled. In Germany, Lufthansa said it was "slightly affected" by the global outage, with the biggest impact on Berlin, Amsterdam, and Zurich routes.
UK Flights
Friday, July 19, was set to be the busiest day of flights of the year, with the highest number of daily departures scheduled. However, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic both reported some flight disruption. London airports Gatwick and Heathrow continued to manage issues, with delays expected.
Global Impact
As of 5 p.m. in London, 4,295 flights had been canceled globally, equating to 3.9% of all scheduled flights worldwide. Aviation analytics firm Cirium reported that this was the highest number of daily departures scheduled since October 2019.
Conclusion
The global IT disruption on July 19, 2024, highlighted the interconnectedness of technology and the impact on global operations. As the world continues to rely on technology, such incidents are likely to occur. However, with effective communication and management, airports and airlines can minimize the disruption and ensure passenger safety.
FAQs
Q: What caused the global IT disruption?
A: The disruption was caused by a combination of a Microsoft outage and a Crowdstrike IT problem.
Q: Which airlines were affected?
A: Major carriers like American Airlines, Delta, and United, as well as European airlines like KLM and Air France.
Q: How many flights were canceled globally?
A: As of 5 p.m. in London, 4,295 flights had been canceled globally.
Q: How did airports manage the disruption?
A: Airport authorities worked to manage the disruptions, with some reporting significant delays or cancellations.
Q: What did airlines do to help passengers?
A: Airlines offered waivers to allow customers to change their travel plans and provided updates on flight schedules and services.
Q: Is this a rare occurrence?
A: No, similar incidents have occurred in the past, and with the increasing reliance on technology, such disruptions are likely to occur in the future.
Author: www.cnbc.com
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