Delta sues CrowdStrike after software glitch causes massive flight disruptions
Delta Air Lines has initiated legal action against CrowdStrike, a cybersecurity firm, following a significant software glitch that, according to Delta, led to a massive operational disruption in July. The glitch reportedly stemmed from a CrowdStrike software update that was automatically deployed to Delta’s systems, grounding flights, and resulting in losses exceeding $500 million. Delta’s lawsuit claims that CrowdStrike’s update was pushed onto their systems without enabling automatic updates, leading to extensive downtime and thousands of canceled flights, impacting millions of passengers globally.
CrowdStrike has responded, expressing regret for the disruption but attributing the prolonged recovery period to Delta’s outdated IT infrastructure, arguing that other airlines and companies affected by the same update recovered more quickly. The cybersecurity firm maintains that Delta’s IT systems were not adequately prepared to handle such issues, stating that Delta’s claims demonstrate a misunderstanding of how cybersecurity protocols function and are an attempt to deflect responsibility.
The impact on passengers was severe, with many left stranded, unable to secure quick assistance or reimbursement from Delta. This has prompted the U.S. Department of Transportation to investigate Delta’s response and the adequacy of its customer service measures during the outage. The case highlights critical questions about cybersecurity accountability and underscores the complexity of managing technology risks in industries reliant on global IT infrastructure.
