The U.S. Department of Transportation is launching an investigation into Delta Air Lines to ensure consumer protection, as the airline grapples with ongoing flight cancellations following a recent global technology failure.
On social media, Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg emphasized that all airline passengers deserve fair treatment, pledging to uphold this right. He noted that the department has received numerous complaints regarding Delta’s handling of the situation after a major software update by the cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike malfunctioned late Thursday, affecting numerous businesses worldwide.
The software defect caused disruptions to Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, causing corporate users to be locked out of their systems and experiencing the infamous “Blue Screen of Death.”
The disruption impacted nearly every industry, and airlines faced particularly severe consequences. On Friday alone, more than 46,000 flights experienced delays and over 5,171 were canceled, according to FlightAware, with Delta being one of the hardest-hit carriers.
Delta reported the cancellation of around 3,500 flights on Friday and Saturday, with more than 2,500 additional flights canceled on Sunday and Monday, and 3,441 flights delayed. By Tuesday, the airline had already experienced 738 cancellations or delays.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret in a statement, saying, “Canceling a flight is always a last resort and something we don’t take lightly. I want to apologize to everyone affected by these events. Delta is in the business of connecting the world, and we understand how difficult it is when your travels are disrupted.”
He explained that a significant number of the airline’s applications rely on Microsoft Windows, which hampered their crew tracking and operational adjustments following the system outage. To assist customers, Delta has implemented a travel waiver allowing fee-free flight changes and provided meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation options.