Microsoft Outage Grounds U.S. Flights, Causes Global Chaos

Air travelers in the U.S. faced major disruptions due to a Microsoft-based global outage that grounded over 1,100 flights and delayed 1,700 more. The outage, linked to a software update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike, prompted airlines to halt operations as frustrated passengers awaited updates.

Air passengers across the United States endured disruptions as a global Microsoft-based outage halted flight operations on Friday. Over 1,100 flights were canceled and more than 1,700 delayed after the outage affected Microsoft's cloud services.

The unexpected disruptions left many travelers frustrated. One United Airlines passenger shared that gate agents were just as uninformed as passengers, leading to prolonged delays. Another traveler expressed disbelief at the global outage, while a third passenger lamented the lack of communication from airlines.

Cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike clarified that the outage was not a cyberattack but rather a software issue that had been resolved. Major airlines like American, United, and Delta issued ground stops due to the outage, which also affected industries ranging from banks to media companies.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) informed air traffic controllers about the communication issues affecting airlines. Despite the chaos, aircraft already airborne continued to their destinations, with carriers working to restore systems.

Microsoft acknowledged the issue, which left many businesses reporting IT outages globally. Both CrowdStrike and Microsoft assured customers that they were working closely to resolve the technical difficulties and ensure system safety.

The outage heavily disrupted various sectors, particularly the travel industry, causing significant delays worldwide. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and CrowdStrike's President George Kurtz emphasized their commitment to resolving the issues quickly.

(With inputs from agencies.)