Microsoft IT outage live: Global Tech Disruption Grounds Flights, Impacts Travel

Thousands Stranded at Airports After Global IT Meltdown

Thousands of travelers are stuck at airports around the world after a major IT outage caused widespread flight cancellations and delays. Over 5,000 flights have been grounded according to latest reports. Many frustrated passengers are now trying to find a place to sleep at the airport overnight as they wait for their travel issues to be resolved.

LAX-Bound Passenger Stranded in Atlanta Airport Chaos

A frustrated traveler is stuck in limbo at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, their dream of reaching Los Angeles fading by the hour.

After enduring over 19 agonizing hours, the passenger spoke with CNN’s Isabel Rosales on Friday afternoon, painting a picture of travel misery. Their initial flight cancellation threw their plans into disarray, and their attempts to find a solution were met with another obstacle: a crippling computer system outage.

“The whole system’s down,” the passenger lamented to Rosales. “Because of that, I couldn’t rebook my flight, get any food vouchers, or even a hotel – nothing!”

Left with no other choice, the passenger resorted to the uncomfortable reality of sleeping on the cold airport floor. Facing another night of uncertainty, they wearily stated, “Looks like I’m stuck sleeping here again tonight.”

US Flight Chaos Continues: Long Road to Recovery After Tech Outage

Frustrated Passengers, Businesses Face Delays as Normalcy Slowly Returns

Airports across the US remain congested with cancellations and delays, leaving countless passengers stranded and scrambling to reschedule flights. This travel nightmare is a ripple effect of a global tech outage that continues to disrupt businesses and government agencies.

Here’s a quick catch-up:

• Mounting Flight Woes: Passengers are missing important events like funerals and birthdays due to widespread cancellations and delays. FlightAware reports over 2,000 cancellations within, entering, or departing the US, with over 5,300 additional delays as of midday ET. While Latin American carriers faced delays, Australian airlines are operating with minimal disruptions.
• Slow Recovery: Although the tech company responsible for the outage implemented a fix, the impact on airports, businesses, and government agencies will linger. CrowdStrike’s software is deeply integrated, making it challenging to get everything back online quickly. Some systems may require manual reboots.
• CrowdStrike Apologizes: CrowdStrike CEO George Kurtz acknowledged the inconvenience and disruption caused by the software update and offered sincere apologies to customers. He emphasized that the outage was not a cyberattack and assured ongoing support for affected parties.

The takeaway? Recovering from this tech outage will take time. Passengers are advised to check flight status regularly and be prepared for continued delays.

Wagging Tails Ease Travel Woes: Therapy Dogs Comfort Stressed Passengers in Houston

Travelers stuck at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston are getting some furry therapy thanks to a team of good boys!

A global IT outage has caused widespread flight disruptions, but these pups are on a mission to spread joy and comfort amidst the chaos.

The airport’s official account shared a heartwarming message highlighting the efforts of their #IAHTherapyDogs, Clyde and Oliver. These volunteers are making their rounds through the terminals, offering a furry shoulder to lean on for stressed passengers.

With over 350 flight delays and nearly 100 cancellations as of Friday noon Eastern Time, these therapy dogs are a welcome source of calm amidst the storm.

US Flight Chaos: Over 2,000 Cancellations and Counting

The tech outage is causing major disruptions to US air travel:

Atlanta Feels the Pinch: Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport leads the nation with 226 canceled flights.

Massive Cancellations: Over 2,000 flights within, entering, or departing the US have been canceled.

Delays Piling Up: More than 5,300 US flights are experiencing delays as of noon Eastern Time.

Delta Takes a Hit: Delta Air Lines has canceled at least 640 flights.

Global Tech Outage Grounds Travelers at World’s Busiest Airport: Missed Events and Frustration Mount

The global IT outage has thrown travel plans into chaos at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the world’s busiest. Here are some experiences from stranded passengers:

• Family Emergencies on Hold: Jennifer Small, stuck in Atlanta after cancellations, worries about missing time with her son in New Jersey.
• Race Against Time for Funeral: Ty Kelley’s travel woes threaten her ability to attend a funeral in Philadelphia. Anxiety is high as she waits in long lines.
• Toddler’s Birthday Party at Risk: Miya Haney’s trip with her child to a Boston birthday party is delayed due to the outage. Manual check-in processes add to the frustration.

With hundreds of thousands of passengers expected and over 380 flights canceled, Atlanta’s airport is experiencing a major disruption.

Tech Outage Aftermath: Airlines Grounded, Critical Services Impacted

A major tech outage caused disruptions worldwide, and the US is still feeling the effects. Here’s a quick update:

Public Service Closures: Several government services are either closed or facing issues. Driver’s license services in Tennessee, North Carolina, and Georgia are inaccessible. Social Security offices are closed nationwide, and longer phone wait times are expected.

Airline Trouble: Passengers face long lines and cancellations at major airports like Atlanta and London. FlightAware reports over 1,700 canceled and nearly 4,500 delayed flights within, to, or from the US. Airlines across Europe and Asia are also affected.

911 Disruptions: The full impact is unclear, but some states like Alaska and cities like Phoenix experienced outages. Thankfully, New York City’s 911 is functional.

Tech Outage Causes Disruptions at LAX: Delays and Cancellations for Major Airlines

Travelers at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) are facing a “mixed bag” of flight delays and cancellations due to a widespread tech outage, according to an airport spokesperson.

“LAX has not been immune to the impact,” said Dae Levine, a spokesperson for LAX. He reported that major carriers American, Delta, and United were all affected.

Levine provided a positive outlook, stating that American Airlines flights are mostly operational again, Delta is making progress, and United is expected to follow soon.

While the exact number of impacted passengers remains unknown, Levine reassured that security and air traffic control haven’t been compromised.

Over 3,300 Flights Grounded Globally, Cause Unclear

Aviation data company Cirium reports that more than 3,340 flights, roughly 3% of all scheduled services worldwide, have been cancelled. It’s important to note that this is the total number of cancellations, and not all may be directly related to a specific cause, such as an IT outage.

Traveler Alert: Tech Outage Disrupts US Flights

A global IT outage is causing delays and cancellations at major US airports. Here’s what some airports are advising passengers:

• Atlanta (Hartsfield-Jackson): Expect challenges with some airlines. Be patient and work with airline and airport staff if your trip is affected.
• Dallas Fort Worth: Significant delays and cancellations are anticipated. Check your flight status with your airline before heading to the airport. Expect longer lines.
• Chicago O’Hare: Check your flight status directly with your airline. Longer lines and wait times are possible.
• New York (JFK): Airport operations are unaffected, but some airlines are experiencing delays/cancellations. Do not come to the airport unless your flight is confirmed.
• Charlotte: Do not come to the airport unless you have confirmed your flight information with the airline.
• Miami: US Customs and Border Patrol operations are affected nationwide, causing slower processing for international arrivals.

Overall, check your flight status with your airline before heading to the airport and allow extra time due to potential delays and longer lines.

New York Struggles to Recover After Global Tech Outage

A major tech outage this morning has caused disruptions in New York, and officials are still working to restore full service.

Here’s a quick rundown:

New Jersey Responds: Governor Murphy is coordinating with local authorities to assess the impact and offer assistance in New Jersey.

No Timeline for Recovery: New York’s cyber chief, Colin Ahern, says there’s no clear timeframe for when everything will be back to normal.

Microsoft Fixed Underlying Issue: While Microsoft claims to have resolved the root cause of the outage, local systems are still experiencing problems.

Priority on Emergency Services: Ahern emphasizes that ensuring all 911 systems are operational remains the top priority.

Heads Up, Travelers: Potential Flight Delays for Latin American Airlines

Latin American airlines are warning passengers of possible flight delays due to global outages.

Copa Airlines, based in Panama, also anticipates potential delays. They recommend passengers arrive at the airport at least 4 hours before their scheduled departure

LATAM Airlines, the Chilean carrier, advises passengers to check their flight status proactively before heading to the airport.

Ryanair Cancels Flights Due to IT Outage, Asks Passengers to Go Home

Due to a global IT outage, Ryanair has been forced to cancel some flights today. Affected passengers have been notified and are advised to check their myRyanair accounts for options once the systems are back online.

To avoid congestion at the airport, Ryanair kindly requests that passengers with cancelled flights head home. Unfortunately, due to the IT outage, the airline cannot assist passengers at the airport currently.

Ryanair apologizes for the inconvenience and assures passengers they’re working to minimize disruptions and keep everyone informed.

Gatwick Airport Staff Improvise Check-In Process to Address IT Outage Backlog

Gatwick Airport staff are working diligently to manage the long queues caused by the global IT outage. With check-in systems down, staff have implemented a creative solution to expedite the process.

Instead of a single queue, passengers are now being called forward for specific flights based on their departure time. This helps to organize the large crowd and reduce wait times.

For example, one staff member was heard calling out “Budapest” to direct passengers on that departing flight to come forward for check-in. This innovative approach demonstrates the airport’s efforts to manage the situation and minimize passenger inconvenience.

Jetstar Cancels All Brisbane Departures for Today

Jetstar passengers in Brisbane faced disappointment this evening as the airline confirmed the cancellation of all remaining flights departing from the city for the day. This news came shortly before 9:00 PM local time.

While other airlines managed to operate some flights in and out of Brisbane, Jetstar encountered significant disruptions with their check-in systems nationwide.

Despite the cancellations, reports suggest passengers received the news calmly, perhaps due to the lengthy wait and the expectation of such an announcement.

Edinburgh Airport on Hold for Incoming Flights Due to IT Disruptions

Travelers headed to Edinburgh face delays as the airport has temporarily halted inbound flights. This decision comes due to a high volume of grounded aircraft caused by the global IT outage impacting airlines.

Edinburgh Airport cannot accept new arrivals until congestion eases. Eurocontrol, the air traffic control organization, reported that the airport is “not available for arrivals due to IT issues.”

Reviewing Restrictions: Airport officials are expected to reassess the situation at 1:00 PM.

Disruptions Likely to Continue: The issue appears to be linked to the earlier “ground stop” imposed by major US carriers like Delta and United, leading to delays across their UK routes.

United Airlines acknowledged the situation on a social media platform, stating, “As we work to restore systems, some flights are resuming. However, many travelers today may experience delays.”

We will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as they become available.

Thai Airports Resort to Manual Check-In Amidst IT Outage

Thailand’s travel hubs are facing challenges due to the global IT outage.

Don Mueang Airport: The country’s second-largest airport is also experiencing difficulties, particularly impacting low-cost carrier Air Asia.

Suvarnabhumi Airport: Long queues have formed as check-in systems are down. Airlines are manually registering passengers for their flights. Airport management has advised passengers to arrive early for their flights to minimize disruptions.

Edinburgh Airport Passengers Remain Calm Despite Delays

Despite long queues and disruptions at Edinburgh Airport, reports indicate passengers are maintaining a sense of composure. This comes as the airport has stopped accepting incoming flights that haven’t already departed, and cancellations are prompting some passengers to leave.

Turkish Airlines Cancels Flights Due to Global IT Outage

Turkish Airlines, the national carrier of Turkey, has been impacted by the global IT outage today. As of 11:00 BST (13:00 local time in Turkey), the airline has cancelled 84 flights. These cancellations primarily affect flights to and from Istanbul, along with various destinations across Europe.

The airline’s low-cost subsidiary, AnadoluJet (AJet), is also experiencing disruptions to its online ticketing, reservation systems, and call centers. Turkish Airlines has apologized for the inconvenience and reassured passengers that flights will “gradually return to normal” as the situation improves.

Delta Grounds Flights Due to Tech Issue

Delta Airlines, the world’s second largest carrier by passenger volume, has announced a pause on all their flights. This comes after the widespread IT outage impacting various airlines.

In a statement, Delta attributed the pause to “a vendor technology issue.” They assured passengers that impacted customers will be notified via the Fly Delta app and text message. The airline also encouraged travelers to use the app for updates on their flights.

Delta apologized for the inconvenience and highlighted their teams are working to resolve the issue. It’s important to note that other airlines may also be experiencing disruptions due to the IT outage.

Flight Cancellations Mount as IT Outage Disrupts Travel

Here’s an update on the global travel situation:

• Nearly 1,400 Flights Cancelled: As of 11:00 BST, aviation data firm Cirium reports that 1,390 commercial flights out of approximately 110,000 scheduled worldwide have been cancelled due to the IT outage.
• Disruptions by Region (data as of 11:47 BST):
  • United States: 512 cancellations
  • Germany: 92 cancellations
  • India: 56 cancellations
  • Italy: 45 cancellations
  • Canada: 21 cancellations
• UK Figures Pending: We’re still waiting for confirmed data on flight cancellations within the UK.

This live blog will continue to update this information as it becomes available.

Luton Airport Sees Check-in Progress, Though Manual Process Remains

There’s some good news for passengers at Luton Airport! Check-in has finally opened for the Wizz Air flight to Vilnius, originally scheduled to take off at 8:00 AM. However, it’s important to note that check-in is currently a manual process due to ongoing IT issues with the airline. This means it’s taking longer than usual, so be prepared for delays.

The writer observed passengers being checked in by hand, with names ticked off a list – a far cry from the typical automated systems. This experience serves as a reminder of how reliant we’ve become on technology for even basic tasks in the travel industry.

Belfast Airport Uses Whiteboard for Flight Information Due to Tech Outage

Due to a global IT system outage, Belfast Airport is currently displaying flight times on whiteboards. While flights themselves are still operational, passengers can expect longer wait times throughout the airport.

Airport staff are working diligently to resolve the issue. We appreciate your patience as they work to restore normal operations.

American Airlines Resumes Operations After Tech Outage

American Airlines has announced that they’ve successfully restored normal operations following an earlier technical issue. According to the airline, their systems were back online by 5:00 AM ET (10:00 AM BST).

“We apologize for any inconvenience caused to our customers,” American Airlines stated.

It’s important to remember that American Airlines, along with many other airlines, were forced to ground flights earlier today due to the widespread IT outage.

Zurich Airport Faces Disruptions Due to Global IT Issues

Global IT problems are causing delays and cancellations at Zurich Airport, a major travel hub. While the airport isn’t completely closed, incoming flights are currently unable to land. Flights already en route to Zurich are allowed to land, but expect delays.

Check-in for some airlines may be slower due to manual processing. It’s recommended that passengers flying in or out of Zurich contact their airline directly to confirm their flight status.

Gatwick Airport Check-In Chaos: Long Lines and Frustration

Gatwick Airport, a major UK hub, is experiencing significant delays due to a widespread IT outage impacting Windows systems. Hundreds of passengers are stranded, with reports of queues reaching nearly four hours. Frustrated travelers are seeking updates from airport staff, who are managing the situation by distributing water. Airlines have issued warnings of severe travel disruptions as the IT issues continue.