On Friday, a significant global technology Microsoft outage caused severe disruptions, grounding flights, disabling banking services, and impacting media outlets worldwide. The disruption highlighted the extensive reliance on a few major software providers and affected numerous industries and services.
Cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike reported that the outage was not related to a cyberattack or security breach. Instead, the issue was linked to problems with Microsoft 365 applications and services. Despite Microsoft’s efforts to resolve the issue by rerouting traffic to alternate systems, disruptions continued for hours. The website DownDetector tracked growing outages affecting various services, including Visa, ADT security, Amazon, and major airlines such as American Airlines and Delta.
In Australia, disruptions were widespread, affecting airlines, telecommunications providers, banks, and media broadcasters. Problems were reported at airports, with long queues and manual check-ins becoming common as online systems failed. Melbourne’s airport experienced significant delays, while Sydney’s airports also reported disruptions. Banks such as NAB, Commonwealth, and Bendigo, along with airlines Virgin Australia and Qantas, were notably affected, leading to widespread inconvenience for travelers and customers.
Impact on Transportation and Services
The technology outage led to substantial disruptions in transportation systems globally. In the U.S., the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported that airlines including United, American, Delta, and Allegiant had their flights grounded. At Los Angeles International Airport, travelers were forced to sleep on jetway floors due to delays. Similar problems were reported at airports in the U.K., Europe, and India, with significant impacts on airline operations. In the U.K., Ryanair, TransPennine Express, and Govia Thameslink Railway experienced disruptions, while Sky News faced issues with broadcast services.
In Europe, Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport experienced major impacts, especially during the peak summer travel period. Germany’s Berlin Airport faced delays in check-in due to the Microsoft outage, and Zurich Airport in Switzerland suspended landings temporarily. Rome’s Leonardo da Vinci Airport reported delays for some U.S.-bound flights. In India, IndiGo airlines reported substantial disruptions affecting thousands of passengers, and Hong Kong’s Airport Authority had to switch to manual check-in processes.
Microsoft Outage causing global problems
Widespread Effects on Banks, Media, and Healthcare
The Microsoft outage had a significant impact on financial institutions, media outlets, and healthcare services. In Britain and Germany, hospitals faced issues with clinical computer systems, affecting patient care and appointment scheduling. The National Health Service in England reported disruptions that prevented access to patient records, while Schleswig-Holstein University Hospital in northern Germany had to cancel elective surgeries.
In Australia, major banks and airlines reported outages, while media organizations like ABC and Sky News struggled with broadcast interruptions. News outlets faced sudden shutdowns of Windows-based systems, with some anchors broadcasting from dark offices. South African banks also reported nationwide service disruptions, affecting payment processes.
CrowdStrike’s CEO George Kurtz clarified that the Microsoft outage stemmed from a defect in a single content update for Windows hosts, not a cyberattack. Despite ongoing efforts to address the issue, the widespread disruption underscored the critical role of technology infrastructure and the challenges of managing global software dependencies.
