The Department of Transportation is launching an investigation into Delta Air Lines to ensure consumer rights are upheld, amidst ongoing flight cancellations linked to a recent global tech outage. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg affirmed on social media that all airline passengers deserve fair treatment, noting that his office has received numerous complaints regarding Delta’s response to the situation.
Delta Air Lines, headquartered in Atlanta, has been struggling to return to normal operation following a flawed software update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike, which occurred late Thursday. This update caused issues with Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, affecting users worldwide, including those experiencing the notorious “Blue Screen of Death.”
The ramifications of the incident extended to nearly every sector, with significant effects on healthcare providers, delivery services, retailers, and financial institutions. Airlines, in particular, faced a substantial impact, with over 46,000 flights delayed and an additional 5,171 canceled on just one day, as reported by FlightAware. Delta experienced the most notable disruptions.
The airline canceled approximately 3,500 flights on Friday and Saturday, while over 2,500 flights were canceled on Sunday and Monday, with a further 3,441 delays reported. As of Tuesday, 738 flights had 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.” He added that Delta is committed to connecting the world and understands the difficulties caused by travel disruptions.
Bastian explained that Delta relies heavily on applications utilizing Microsoft Windows, particularly a crew tracking tool that was affected by the system outage. To assist customers, Delta has implemented a travel waiver, allowing passengers to change their flights without fees and providing meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation options.