A massive global IT outage caused chaos for air passengers around the world as several U.S. carriers, including American Airlines, United Airlines, and Delta Air Lines, issued ground stops for all their flights due to communication problems. Over 2,600 flights were canceled and nearly 9,200 delays occurred, creating frustration for travelers. The aviation sector, highly dependent on precise timing, was particularly hard hit by the outage, which was traced back to a defect in a Microsoft Windows update by cybersecurity firm Crowdstrike.
Passengers faced delays, cancellations, and problems with checking in as airports and airlines struggled to resume normal operations. Airports and airlines advised customers to arrive earlier than usual for flights, and airlines like American, Delta, and United offered waivers for travelers affected by the disruption.
The Federal Aviation Administration worked closely with airlines to resume normal operations as ground stops and delays continued intermittently at various airports. The Department of Transportation confirmed that the delays and cancellations caused by the IT outage were considered controllable by the airlines, which are required to offer refunds to customers if their flights are canceled for any reason.
Passengers experiencing significant delays were advised to ask airline staff for compensation, such as meal vouchers or hotel rooms. Each airline defines significant delays differently, but the DOT’s dashboard provides information on compensation for controllable delays of three or more hours. Travelers seeking compensation for delayed flights should file a claim with their respective airlines. Airlines worked tirelessly to resolve the aftermath of the outage and get passengers to their destinations, emphasizing the importance of communication and flexibility during such disruptions.
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