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Global outage affects flights, media, banks, and telecoms
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A mistake in a security software update from U.S. cybersecurity software company CrowdStrike crashed Microsoft Windows systems around the globe on Friday. The global outage impacts business and services around the world.
This development reinforces the fears about dependence on software from a handful of providers. However, it was quickly resolved.
Global Outage Impacts Business and Services
After the outage was resolved, companies were dealing with backlogs of delayed and canceled flights and medical appointments, missed orders, and other issues that could take days to resolve.
Businesses also faced inquiries about how to avoid future blackouts triggered by technology meant to safeguard their systems.
CrowdStrike, which advertises being used by over half of Fortune 500 companies, said one of its recent content updates had a defect that impacted Microsoft’s Windows Operating System, adding the incident was “not a security incident or cyberattack.”
A Microsoft spokesperson said in a statement on Friday afternoon, “Earlier today, a CrowdStrike update was responsible for bringing down several IT systems globally. We are actively supporting customers to assist in their recovery.”
Global Outage Not Security or Cyber Incident
CrowdStrike CEO George Kurtz highlighted that the outage was not a “security or cyber incident”.
He wrote on X, “We understand the gravity of the situation and are deeply sorry for the inconvenience and disruption. We are working with all impacted customers to ensure that systems are back up and they can deliver the services their customers are counting on.”
“As noted earlier, the issue has been identified and a fix has been deployed.”
The outages rippled far and wide, forcing some broadcasters off the air and leaving customers without access to services such as healthcare or banking. Transport systems were also affected.
In the US, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said the airlines United, American, Delta, and Allegiant had all been grounded. Travelers at Los Angeles International Airport slept on a jetway floor, using backpacks and other luggage for pillows, due to a delayed United flight to Dulles International Airport early on Friday.
Edinburgh Airport said the system outage meant waiting times were longer than usual. London’s Stansted Airport said some airline check-in services were being completed manually, but flights were still operating.
AP also reported that widespread problems were reported at Australian airports, where lines grew and some passengers were stranded as online check-in services and self-service booths were disabled. Passengers in Melbourne queued for more than an hour to check in, although flights were still operating.
Airline operations in India were disrupted, affecting thousands.
The privately-owned IndiGo airlines told the passengers on X that the Microsoft outage on Friday impacted airline operations in India, inconveniencing thousands of passengers.
Several airlines made statements on X, saying that they were following manual check-in and boarding processes and warned of delays due to technical problems.
Hospitals in Britain and Germany also reported problems.
Global Outage Impacts On Health
Global outage impacts business and services: It also affects the health sector. Several practices within the National Health Service in England reported that the outage had hit their clinical computer system that contains medical records and is used for scheduling.
“We have no access to patient clinical records so are unable to book appointments or provide information,” Church Lane Surgery in Brighouse in Northern England said on the social media platform X. “This is a national problem and is being worked on as a high priority.”
In northern Germany, the Schleswig-Holstein University Hospital, which has branches in Kiel and Luebeck, said it had canceled all elective surgery scheduled for Friday, but patient and emergency care were unaffected.
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News outlets in Australia were also unable to broadcast on their TV and radio channels and reported sudden shutdowns of Windows-based computers. Some news anchors broadcast live online from dark offices, in front of computers showing “blue screens of death.”
In South Africa, at least one major bank said it was experiencing “nationwide service disruptions” as customers reported they were unable to make payments using their bank cards at grocery stores and gas stations.
The New Zealand banks ASB and Kiwibank said their services were down.
