A major global outage linked to CrowdStrike and Microsoft Azure disrupted flights worldwide, causing significant delays at airports.
UPDATE: South African Airways released a statement confirming their operations have been impacted by the CyberStrike global outage.
“SAA regrets to inform customers that we are experiencing an intermittent technical outage at our Contact Centre due to an unexpected global network issue. Customers contacting us for new bookings, changes, or ancillary purchases will experience a longer hold time. Our teams are working on resolving the problem as soon as possible. Where possible, customers are encouraged to use our digital channels for bookings and servicing.”
These airports were affected by the CyberStrike global outage
On Friday, a global IT outage caused by issues at CrowdStrike and Microsoft Azure led American Airlines, United, and Delta to request the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) implement a global ground stop on all flights.
This unprecedented move aimed to manage the widespread disruptions affecting airlines, media, and banks.
London Gatwick Airport (LGW)
London Gatwick Airport (LGW) was among the affected locations, advising passengers of possible delays during check-in and security procedures.
Despite the issues, passengers were still instructed to arrive at their normal check-in times. Gatwick officials apologized for the inconvenience and assured that they were working swiftly to resolve the problems.
Dublin Airport and Ryanair
Dublin Airport faced challenges as Ryanair experienced significant disruptions in its check-in processes.
Passengers were advised to arrive three hours before their scheduled departure times to accommodate the delays caused by the global IT issue.
The Dublin Airport team was on-site to assist passengers and help mitigate the impact.
Ryanair confirmed that the disruption was due to a third-party IT outage and extended their apologies to affected travellers.
IndiGo and Berlin Brandenburg Airport
IndiGo, a low-cost airline based in India, also reported issues due to the ongoing problems with Microsoft Azure.
Passengers faced difficulties accessing boarding passes, and some flights were affected.
Similarly, Berlin Brandenburg Airport experienced severe disruptions, grounding all flights initially and warning of delays in check-ins due to technical issues.
Impact on passengers and airlines
The outage’s ripple effects were felt across the aviation industry, with passengers at various airports facing delays and uncertainties.
Many travellers were unable to check in online or access boarding passes, leading to long lines and frustration at airport counters.
Airlines and airport staff worked diligently to manage the situation, providing assistance where possible and keeping passengers informed.
Ryanair advised all passengers to arrive at least three hours before their scheduled departures, ensuring they could check in at the airport if unable to do so online.
The airline acknowledged the inconvenience and sought to accommodate passengers as best as possible under the circumstances.
What caused the CyberStrike global outage?
The cyber outage was traced back to issues at global cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike and Microsoft Azure.
CrowdStrike admitted responsibility for the error and stated that they were working to correct it.
The company acknowledged reports of crashes on Windows hosts related to their Falcon Sensor and assured that they were addressing the issue promptly.
Microsoft services, including Azure, also experienced significant disruptions, affecting various sectors, including banking and media.
In South Africa, Capitec Bank users were locked out of their accounts on mobile banking apps and ATMs, illustrating the widespread nature of the outage.