A global software outage on Friday caused widespread disruption across various sectors, including business, healthcare, technology, and government. The incident unfolded rapidly, bringing many computer systems to a halt within just 12 hours.
Initial Disruptions and Emergency Services
Late Thursday night and early Friday saw the first signs of trouble as 911 centers and transportation services experienced interruptions. States such as Alaska and Arizona reported 911 service outages, creating significant challenges for emergency responders. Hospitals also faced technology issues, impacting overnight shifts for nurses and complicating patient care.
By early Friday morning, public transit systems in the Northeast, including Washington, DC, announced delays and service interruptions. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority in New York City reported that customer information systems had temporarily gone offline. CrowdStrike’s software crashed on Windows operating systems used by many Fortune 500 companies.
Grounded Flights and Transportation Chaos
Between 2 and 3 a.m. Eastern Time, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grounded all Delta and American Airlines flights. United and Allegiant Airlines followed suit, and Spirit Airlines reported issues with its flight reservation system, leading to widespread travel disruptions.
Airports across the country braced for a challenging day. Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport deployed additional customer service personnel. Delta Air Lines began to resume some flights and issued travel waivers, urging passengers to be patient. American Airlines hubs like Charlotte Douglas International Airport and Miami International Airport advised passengers to verify flight information before heading to the airport.
Government and Financial Sector Responses
Between 6 and 7 a.m., the White House National Security Council began investigating the incident. A spokesperson confirmed there were no indications of malicious activity. Global banks experienced service disruptions, including Commonwealth Bank in Australia, Capitec in South Africa, and the Bank of Israel. Other financial institutions in Australia and New Zealand also faced outages.
Portland’s Mayor Ted Wheeler issued an emergency declaration due to the outage affecting the Bureau of Emergency Communication’s Computer-Aided Dispatch system. Meanwhile, United Airlines announced the resumption of some flights, offering a glimmer of hope amid the widespread disruptions.
Healthcare and DMV Impacts
By late morning, healthcare systems and state departments of motor vehicles (DMVs) were significantly impacted. The Massachusetts Department of Transportation and similar agencies in Georgia, North Carolina, Texas, and Tennessee reported affected operations. Healthcare systems like Mass General Brigham and Penn Medicine reported delays and cancellations of non-urgent surgeries and medical appointments.
Cancer centers like Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center paused certain procedures. In British Columbia, the Provincial Health Services Authority implemented contingency plans to ensure patient care continued despite the setbacks.
Ongoing Aftershocks and Recovery Efforts
By late afternoon, the New York Blood Center reported delays in distributing blood. Blood Centers of America experienced similar issues, impacting their ability to report test results promptly. This situation was exacerbated by the cancellation of elective surgeries.
On Saturday morning, Microsoft estimated that the outage affected 8.5 million Windows devices. Airlines resumed most services but continued to warn customers of ongoing disruptions. By noon Saturday, over 3,375 flights were delayed and more than 1,200 were canceled across the United States. Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport was among the most affected, highlighting the extensive reach and impact of the outage.