Microsoft, CrowdStrike software update sparks global cyber outage: Flights grounded and billions affected

A recent Microsoft software update has plunged the globe into a cyber nightmare. According to Reuters, the update wreaked havoc on computer systems worldwide on Friday, grounding flights, forcing broadcasters off the air, and disrupting services ranging from banking to healthcare.

The trigger appears to be an update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike, affecting users of Microsoft’s Windows Operating System. Microsoft announced late Friday that the issue had been resolved. However, the damage was widespread, impacting organizations, corporate computers, and billions of individuals.

CrowdStrike CEO George Kurtz took to social media platform X, stating that the company was “actively working with customers impacted by a defect found in a single content update for Windows hosts” and that a fix was being deployed, Reuters reported. “This is not a security incident or cyberattack,” Kurtz added.

Early Friday, major U.S. airlines—including American Airlines, Delta Airlines, and United Airlines—grounded flights, while carriers and airports globally reported delays and disruptions.

Stranded Passengers

The cyber outage’s impact was far-reaching, affecting thousands of companies and organizations worldwide. Emergency services, including 911 systems, were down, and home alarm systems were rendered inoperative. Various governments convened emergency meetings to address the crisis.

In Australia, authorities announced an emergency crisis meeting due to the technical failure. Scandinavian Airlines reported an operational problem with its booking system, and Israel’s government agencies, hospitals, banks, and post offices faced technical difficulties. Jetstar Japan experienced significant check-in system issues, causing cancellations and delays.

Nintendo announced an inability to provide several network services, while the Baltic Hub container terminal in Poland’s port of Gdansk, one of the largest on the Baltic Sea, reported operational issues. Dutch airline KLM stated it couldn’t service flights due to the failure, and banks in Kenya reported technical problems affecting their computer systems. Prague’s Václav Havel Airport also faced flight disruptions and delays.

In Japan, McDonald’s suspended operations at about a third of its restaurants due to cash register errors. Banks and financial services companies from Australia to India and Germany warned customers of disruptions, and traders globally reported problems executing transactions.

“We are having the mother of all global market outages,” one trader remarked.

In Britain, medical booking systems were offline, Sky News went off the air, and Manchester United had to postpone a scheduled ticket release. The chaos underscores the fragility of our interconnected digital world, where a single software update can cause widespread turmoil.

Vending machine computer with blue screen of death