IT Outage Disrupts Industries Across The Globe
A global tech outage hit multiple sectors on Friday, causing widespread disruptions. Airlines grounded flights, broadcasters went off-air, and everything from banking to healthcare experienced system problems.
American Airlines, Delta, United, and Allegiant Air cited communication issues as the reason for grounding flights. Meanwhile, Microsoft reported resolving its cloud services outage, though the connection to the airline disruptions remains unclear.
Airports and Trains Hit Hardest By Outage
The travel industry was among the hardest hit. Airports worldwide, including those in Tokyo, Amsterdam, Berlin, and Spain, reported system problems and delays. Ryanair warned of booking system issues, and UK train companies, such as Thameslink and TransPennine Express, experienced significant disruptions.
Airports across the globe, including in the US and Australia, reported delays. Delta and American Airlines flights were grounded, and automated boarding systems at Edinburgh Airport went offline. Passengers at Gatwick Airport described the scene as "bedlam," with long queues and delays. Passengers were advised to check their flight status and arrive early to avoid further disruptions.
UK GPs Unable To Access Patient Records
In the UK, the Liberal Democrats have urged the government to convene an emergency meeting to address the crisis. GPs reported being unable to access patient records or book appointments, with some surgeries running on emergency-only services. The National Pharmacy Association confirmed that community pharmacies were also affected, disrupting the accessing of prescriptions and medicine deliveries.
London Stock Exchange Reports Outage
Retail and financial sectors were not spared. Payment issues were reported in shops like Gail's and Waitrose, while Visa experienced outages in its digital payment network. Some banks and financial institutions from Australia to India and South Africa warned clients about service disruptions. The London Stock Exchange reported an outage of its data and news platform Workspace.
Sky Off-Air For Hours In Outage
Media outlets struggled to stay on air. Sky News in the UK went off-air for several hours, while broadcasters in Australia, including ABC and Sky News, also faced shutdowns of Windows-based systems. Sky News apologised for the interruption and worked to restore services.
Australia Links Outage To Cybersecurity Firm Crowdstrike
Australia's government linked the outages to global cybersecurity firm Crowdstrike. Their "Falcon Sensor" software reportedly caused Microsoft Windows to crash, resulting in the infamous "Blue Screen of Death." The outages impacted media, banks, and telecoms companies in Australia, with no evidence suggesting a cybersecurity incident, according to Australia's National Cyber Security Coordinator.
Microsoft confirmed it was investigating issues with its 365 apps and operating systems. While some services have recovered, problems have persisted globally. Crowdstrike acknowledged the crashes related to its Falcon sensor but did not provide further details.
The cause of the outage is still under investigation, but it appears to be related to Windows PCs worldwide. Despite the widespread disruption, the UK's Ministry of Defence and other officials indicated there was no evidence of a cyberattack from hostile states or criminals. Businesses and institutions around the world are working to resolve the issues and mitigate the impact on their services.
