Transport providers, businesses, and governments worldwide are scrambling to recover from a massive technology outage that has caused widespread disruptions, particularly in the air travel industry. The issue stemmed from a faulty update deployed by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike to computers running Microsoft Windows, affecting an estimated 8.5 million devices globally.
The aftermath of the outage has been felt across various sectors, with airports facing challenges in checking in passengers and ensuring security protocols. In Austria, a leading doctors’ organization highlighted the vulnerability of health systems reliant on digital infrastructure, emphasizing the need for analog backups to safeguard patient care.
In Germany, the government’s IT security agency warned of ongoing disruptions to business processes and cautioned against cybercriminals exploiting the situation through phishing scams. However, European airports, including Heathrow and Berlin Airport, are gradually returning to normal operations, with flights resuming close to schedule.
In the UK, the travel and transport industries are still struggling to recover, with Gatwick Airport and Manchester Airport experiencing manual check-ins and potential cancellations. The Port of Dover is also seeing an influx of displaced air passengers seeking alternative transportation options.
Delta Air Lines and its regional affiliates have canceled hundreds of flights on the East Coast, while Eurowings, a subsidiary of Lufthansa, expects to resume largely scheduled flight operations. Meanwhile, Portland, Oregon, declared an emergency after more than half of the city’s computer systems were affected by the outage.
Border crossings into the US have also been impacted, with delays reported at the San Ysidro Port of Entry and the U.S.-Canada border crossings. As authorities work to restore systems and mitigate the fallout from the technology outage, the focus remains on ensuring the safety and security of passengers and critical services.