The Department of Transportation has initiated an investigation into Delta Air Lines to ensure consumer rights are upheld following numerous flight cancellations linked to a recent global tech outage. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg emphasized the importance of fair treatment for airline passengers and acknowledged the department’s receipt of hundreds of complaints regarding Delta’s handling of the situation.
The Atlanta-based airline has struggled to recover fully after a software update by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike disrupted operations worldwide. The update’s defect affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, preventing many corporate users from accessing essential systems and causing significant issues, including the notorious “Blue Screen of Death.”
This tech mishap impacted nearly every major industry, with airlines and airports experiencing severe disruptions. On the Friday following the incident, over 46,000 flights were delayed and an additional 5,171 were canceled, marking one of the worst days on record for airline operations, with Delta facing the brunt of the impact.
Delta canceled approximately 3,500 flights over the weekend, with more than 2,500 additional cancellations on Sunday and Monday, alongside 3,441 delays. By Tuesday, reports indicated that 738 flights had already been canceled or delayed.
In response to the widespread disruption, Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret for the inconvenience caused, stating that canceling flights is considered a last resort. He highlighted the airline’s commitment to connecting people around the world and the challenges faced when travel plans are altered.
Delta acknowledged that a significant number of its applications run on Microsoft Windows, including critical tools for crew tracking that were disrupted due to the outage. To assist affected customers, Delta has implemented a travel waiver allowing free flight changes and is offering meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation options.