Flights disrupted globally due to IT outage

More than 1,000 flights have been cancelled around the world today (19 July) so far, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium. This figure – currently 1,078 – will only get bigger as the knock-on impacts grow. Multiple airports across Asia Pacific in Australia, China including Hong Kong SAR, India, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, and Thailand are experiencing delays and suspensions of online processing systems. Various airlines like India’s Akasa Air, IndiGo, and SpiceJet, as well as Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines, Jetstar, Virgin Australia are also impacted, leading to delays. The outage is also affecting other airlines globally, with multiple American carriers grounding flights. Lingering disruptions are likely after normal services resume as airlines work to clear passenger backlogs. Cybersecurity software CrowdStrike caused computers around the world to shut down, impacting airlines, banks, supermarkets, media outlets and more. The issue stems from a “bluescreen error” as a result of the outage, with servers and devices getting stuck in “boot loops”. CrowdStrike President and CEO George Kurtz said that the large-scale IT outage caused by an update by the firm on Friday was “not a security incident or cyberattack.” “Mac and Linux hosts are not impacted. This is not a security incident or cyberattack. The issue has been identified, isolated and a fix has been deployed. We refer customers to the support portal for the latest updates and will continue to provide complete and continuous updates on our website,” the company posted on X. CrowdStrike appears to have directly affected Windows systems around the world, causing global IT problems, 911 outages across several US states, and disruptions in international airlines, banks and media outlets. The company’s shares tanked by as much as 20 percent in US premarket trading. A Virgin Australia spokeswoman told news.com.au that they were aware of the issue having an impact on flights. “Virgin Australia operations are continuing following a large-scale IT outage impacting multiple airlines and other businesses, however some cancellations and delays are expected,” she said. “We are working to resolve any delays and get our guests on their way as quickly as possible.” Qantas and Jetstar are also experiencing impacts to their systems due to the outrage.  Sydney Airport said in a statement on X, formerly Twitter, that there would be delays throughout the evening. “A global technical outage has impacted some airline operations and terminal services,” a spokesperson said. “Flights are currently arriving and departing however there may be some delays throughout the evening. We have activated our contingency plans and deployed additional staff to our terminals. If you’re travelling today make sure you leave plenty of time to come to the airport and check with your airline regarding the status of your flight.” Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth Perth airports also shared similar statements. The Age is reporting that Jetstar is unable to check in any passengers or board planes, with staff saying the outage appears to be affecting the airline nationwide, and that passengers at  Sydney Airport have been prevented from collecting their luggage from baggage carousels. Changi Airport said in response to queries from The Business Times that the check-in process for some airlines is being managed manually due to the outage. “Changi Airport ground staff are providing assistance to passengers, especially those with impending departure times,” said the airport’s statement. National carrier Singapore Airlines (SIA) also said in a Facebook post that services at its Ion Orchard centre, as well as its reservation hotines, are experiencing technical difficulties due to the global outage. “There is currently no impact to SIA flights, which are operating as scheduled,” it said. Customers who wish to make a new booking or amend existing bookings were advised to do so through the SIA website or SingaporeAir mobile app, said the airline. It also provided a link to a form for customers with urgent requests. SIA’s budget carrier Scoot has also announced that it is facing disruptions to its flight reservation system and check-in process, as well as some flight delays. It has activated additional staff to man the check-in counters at Changi Airport. For Editorial Inquiries Contact: Editor Matt Driskill at [email protected] For Advertising Inquiries Contact: Head of Sales Kay Rolland at [email protected]