The Department of Transportation is investigating Delta Air Lines as the company faces scrutiny for its handling of passenger services after a recent global tech outage led to widespread flight cancellations. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg emphasized the importance of treating airline passengers fairly and noted that his department had received numerous complaints regarding Delta’s response to the situation.
Delta, based in Atlanta, has struggled to restore normal operations following a software update malfunction by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike. This update, which was rolled out on Thursday, negatively affected Microsoft Windows operating systems and caused significant disruptions for various corporate users, leading to instances of the notorious “Blue Screen of Death.”
The impact was felt across many sectors, including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance, but airlines and airports were particularly severely affected. On Friday alone, over 46,000 flights experienced delays, with more than 5,171 cancellations reported by FlightAware. Delta Airlines bore a considerable burden from this incident.
Delta canceled approximately 3,500 flights on Friday and Saturday, followed by more than 2,500 cancellations on Sunday and Monday, along with over 3,400 delays. As of Tuesday, the airline had already canceled or delayed 738 flights.
In response to the disruptions, Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret over the cancellations, stating that such actions are a last resort and not taken lightly. He acknowledged the challenges faced by travelers and reiterated the airline’s commitment to connecting people. To assist affected customers, Delta has implemented a travel waiver allowing free flight changes and provided meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation support.