A global software glitch that began on July 19 has been traced back to a corrupted software update sent out by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike, affecting millions of devices worldwide. According to Microsoft, approximately 8.5 million Windows devices were rendered inoperable due to the faulty update.
The outage had significant repercussions for Delta Airlines, which experienced severe disruptions lasting several days. Despite other airlines recovering more swiftly, Delta was forced to cancel around 7,000 flights over a five-day period, ending on July 24. The US Department of Transportation is now investigating the airline’s response to the disruptions.
Delta has pointed the finger at CrowdStrike and Microsoft, blaming the two companies for the technological breakdown and hinting at possible legal action. Both CrowdStrike and Microsoft have refuted the claims of responsibility. CrowdStrike announced it would “aggressively” defend itself if legal action is pursued, while Microsoft indicated that Delta’s outdated IT infrastructure may have contributed to the prolonged impact.
Delta’s CEO, Ed Bastian, expressed frustration in a filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission, stating that the situation was “unacceptable.” He emphasized that the technology failure affected approximately 1.3 million Delta customers, underscoring the severity of the impact.
In response to the allegations, David Boies, representing Delta, wrote to CrowdStrike, insisting that there was “no basis” for suggesting Delta was responsible for the faulty software. Boies highlighted that Delta had invested billions in its technology and faced significant operational challenges due to its reliance on CrowdStrike and Microsoft. He criticized CrowdStrike for presenting a “misleading narrative” about the situation.
Delta is also facing legal action from passengers affected by the flight cancellations. A lawsuit alleges that no other US airline had canceled as many flights and accuses Delta of inadequate compensation and requiring passengers to sign waivers releasing the airline from legal claims.
Many airlines, including Delta, use Microsoft’s Office365 for scheduling, which was disrupted by the CrowdStrike outage, forcing them to revert to manual scheduling. CrowdStrike is now contending with a shareholder lawsuit alleging “false and misleading” statements regarding its software testing procedures. The company has denied these allegations.