The Department of Transportation has launched an investigation into Delta Air Lines amid ongoing flight cancellations following a significant global technology outage. The situation arose last week when a software update from cybersecurity company CrowdStrike adversely impacted Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, affecting businesses worldwide.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg emphasized the importance of treating airline passengers fairly in a statement on social media, noting that the department had received numerous complaints regarding Delta’s handling of the situation.
Delta, based in Atlanta, has been struggling to return to normal operations after this major incident. The outage disrupted almost every major industry, leading to over 46,000 flight delays and more than 5,171 cancellations on Friday alone, as reported by FlightAware. Delta bore a significant brunt of the impact, canceling approximately 3,500 flights over the weekend, with additional cancellations and delays continuing into the following week.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret over the disruptions, stating that canceling flights is a measure taken only after careful consideration. He acknowledged the challenges faced by affected travelers and reassured them of the airline’s commitment to connecting people.
Bastian explained that Delta relies on numerous applications using Microsoft Windows, one of which is crucial for tracking crew assignments that failed due to the system outage. In response to the situation, Delta has implemented a travel waiver allowing customers to change their flights at no charge and has also offered meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation assistance to those affected.