Over 4,400 flights have been canceled and more than 39,700 have been delayed worldwide until close to midnight on Friday/Saturday, due to a global technical malfunction. Previously, data from “FlightAware” had reported that more than 3,200 flights were canceled and over 29,300 were delayed worldwide. The total delays on Friday amounted to 39,786 flights, while the total cancellations reached 4,417 flights, according to Sputnik news agency.
American media reported a statement from Microsoft indicating that an update conducted earlier on Friday by global cybersecurity firm “CrowdStrike” disrupted several IT systems worldwide. The statement noted that active efforts are underway to fix the malfunction. It is important to mention that CrowdStrike provides antivirus software for Microsoft and its Windows operating systems.
A recorded message from CrowdStrike’s technical support line acknowledged the company’s awareness of reports regarding malfunctions in Microsoft systems related to its Falcon Sensor software.
Airlines lost access to check-in and booking services, causing long lines at airports in the U.S., Europe, and Asia during a peak travel period. Hospitals and doctors’ offices experienced problems with appointment systems, leading to the cancellation of non-urgent surgeries. Several TV stations in the U.S. were also unable to air local news early Friday.
