The U.S. Department of Transportation is currently conducting an investigation into Delta Air Lines to ensure the airline is properly addressing consumer concerns following a wave of flight cancellations linked to a recent global tech outage. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg emphasized on social media that all airline passengers deserve fair treatment, stating that his department has already received “hundreds of complaints” regarding Delta’s handling of the situation.
Delta Air Lines, based in Atlanta, has faced challenges in resuming full operations after a problematic software update conducted by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike last Thursday disrupted services worldwide. This update reportedly caused significant issues with Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, affecting various corporate users and leaving some facing system crashes, commonly referred to as the “Blue Screen of Death.”
The impact of this incident was widespread, disrupting numerous industries including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance. The aviation sector was particularly hard hit, with over 46,000 flight delays and more than 5,171 cancellations reported on Friday alone, according to data from FlightAware. Delta experienced one of the highest numbers of disruptions.
As a result, Delta canceled around 3,500 flights over Friday and Saturday. The airline reported an additional cancellation of over 2,500 flights on Sunday and Monday, alongside 3,441 delays. By Tuesday, Delta had already canceled or delayed 738 flights.
Delta’s CEO, Ed Bastian, addressed the situation in a statement, underscoring that flight cancellations are a last resort and deeply regrettable. He apologized to all affected travelers, acknowledging the difficulties caused by the disruptions. Bastian noted that the airline relies on a considerable number of applications utilizing Microsoft Windows, which contributed to the operational issues.
In response to the disruptions, Delta has introduced a travel waiver allowing customers to change their flights free of charge and has also provided meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transport options for affected passengers.