The U.S. Department of Transportation is currently investigating Delta Air Lines to ensure consumer rights are being upheld following a series of flight cancellations due to a recent global tech outage. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg emphasized on social media that all airline passengers deserve fair treatment, mentioning that his department has received numerous complaints regarding Delta’s response to the disruptions.
Delta Air Lines, based in Atlanta, has struggled to restore normal operations after a problematic software update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike caused widespread impact. This update affected Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leaving many corporate users unable to access their systems, and some faced the infamous “Blue Screen of Death.”
The tech outage led to significant disruptions across various sectors, with nearly every major industry affected. Airlines and airports experienced the most significant impact, with over 46,000 flights delayed and more than 5,100 cancelled on Friday alone, according to FlightAware. Delta suffered the most, canceling about 3,500 flights over the course of Friday and Saturday and more than 2,500 flights on Sunday and Monday, in addition to delaying another 3,441 flights. As of Tuesday, 738 flights have already been canceled or delayed.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret for the disruptions, stating, “Canceling a flight is always a last resort, and something we don’t take lightly. I want to apologize to every one of you who have been impacted by these events.” He noted that Delta relies heavily on Microsoft Windows applications, including a vital tool for crew tracking that was impaired due to the system issues. In response to the situation, Delta has introduced a travel waiver allowing customers to change their flights at no extra cost, along with offering meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation services.