The Department of Transportation is launching an investigation into Delta Air Lines to ensure consumer protection following a series of flight cancellations that stemmed from a global technology outage last week.
In a social media statement on Tuesday, Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg emphasized that all airline passengers deserve fair treatment and pledged to uphold that standard. He noted that the department had received numerous complaints regarding Delta’s handling of the outages.
Delta, based in Atlanta, has struggled to restore its operations after a faulty software update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike affected businesses worldwide. This update caused issues in Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leaving corporate users without access and encountering severe errors.
The incident impacted nearly every major sector, including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance. Airlines suffered significantly, with more than 46,000 flights delayed and over 5,171 canceled on a single Friday, according to FlightAware. Delta Airlines was particularly hard hit.
During the outage on Friday and Saturday, Delta canceled approximately 3,500 flights and reported more than 2,500 cancellations over the subsequent Sunday and Monday. Additionally, 3,441 flights were delayed. On Tuesday alone, FlightAware reported 738 flights either canceled or delayed.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret on Sunday, stating, “Canceling a flight is always a last resort, and something we don’t take lightly. I want to apologize to everyone who has been impacted.” He acknowledged the challenges disruptions cause for travelers and noted that Delta relies on numerous Microsoft Windows applications, including critical tools for crew tracking that were rendered ineffective due to the shutdown. To assist customers, Delta has provided a travel waiver allowing free flight changes and issued meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transport options.