The Department of Transportation is conducting an investigation into Delta Air Lines to ensure the airline is properly addressing consumer needs following a series of flight cancellations linked to a global technology outage last week.
In a separate development, McDonald’s has become the subject of its first lawsuit resulting from an E. coli outbreak connected to its Quarter Pounder burgers.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg emphasized on social media that airline passengers are entitled to fair treatment, stating that his department has received “hundreds of complaints” regarding Delta’s handling of the tech disruptions.
Delta Air Lines, based in Atlanta, has faced ongoing operational challenges following a problematic software update by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike, which affected various businesses globally. This update created issues with Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leaving corporate clients unable to access their systems, and in some instances, encountering serious errors referred to as the “Blue Screen of Death.”
The incident had a widespread impact, affecting numerous sectors, including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance, but airlines and airports experienced significant disruptions. On Friday alone, over 46,000 flights were delayed, and more than 5,171 were canceled, as reported by FlightAware, with Delta being the most severely affected.
Delta announced the cancellation of around 3,500 flights on Friday and Saturday, followed by more than 2,500 cancellations and 3,441 delays over Sunday and Monday. As of Tuesday, 738 flights were either canceled or delayed.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret over the situation, stating that cancellations are not made lightly. He apologized to the passengers affected, noting that Delta’s core mission is to connect people and that travel disruptions can be very challenging for customers.
Bastian explained that Delta relies on numerous applications that depend on Microsoft Windows, including a tool for tracking crews which was hindered by the system’s failures. In response to the disruptions, Delta is providing customers with a travel waiver for free flight changes, along with meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation assistance.