Widespread Microsoft Outage Disrupts Flights, Banks, Stock Exchanges, and Broadcasters
A major Microsoft outage has caused widespread disruption globally, affecting flights, banks, stock exchanges, payment systems, and emergency services. The outage, which began early today, is reportedly linked to a recent CrowdStrike update. Microsoft tweeted approximately six hours after the issue began that “multiple services are continuing to see improvements in availability as our mitigation actions progress.”
The outage has led to significant operational problems. Major airlines, including IndiGo, Akasa Airlines, and SpiceJet, reported disruptions in booking and check-in services. In the U.S., airlines such as American Airlines, Delta, and United grounded flights due to the technical issues. Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport, Berlin Airport, and other major hubs also experienced delays and cancellations.
Stock exchanges around the world, including the London Stock Exchange, faced disruptions. Brokerage firms like Nuvama, Edelweiss, and Motilal Oswal reported technical problems, affecting trading activities. Payment systems were impacted globally, including in India.
The outage even disrupted operations related to the Paris 2024 Olympics, with the organizing committee activating contingency plans. News broadcasters, including Sky News and Associated Press, faced service interruptions, affecting their ability to deliver news.
In response to the issue, Microsoft stated that they are addressing the problem with high priority and working to restore full functionality. CrowdStrike CEO George Kurtz confirmed that the outage is not a security incident but a defect from a recent update. He assured that Mac and Linux hosts are unaffected, and a fix has been deployed.
The Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT) has issued guidance for resolving the issue, including steps to revert the recent update. The IT Ministry of India, led by Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, is in contact with Microsoft and has confirmed that the NIC network remains unaffected.
