Global Microsoft Outage Disrupts Flights, Banks, Media, and Companies Worldwide

A major Microsoft outage on Friday led to widespread disruptions affecting flights, banks, media outlets, and various companies around the globe. The tech giant has been working to resolve issues affecting access to Microsoft 365 apps and services, but the disruptions have continued for hours.

DownDetector, a site that tracks internet outages based on user reports, recorded outages impacting Visa, ADT Security, Amazon, and several airlines, including American Airlines and Delta. In Australia, news outlets reported that airlines, telecommunications providers, banks, and broadcasters lost access to their computer systems. Similar issues were reported by airlines in the UK, Europe, and India, as well as some banks in New Zealand.

Microsoft 365 posted on X that it was "working on rerouting the impacted traffic to alternate systems to alleviate impact more quickly" and observed a "positive trend in service availability." The company did not provide further details on the cause of the outage.

We're investigating an issue impacting users ability to access various Microsoft 365 apps and services. More info posted in the admin center under MO821132 and on https://t.co/W5Y8dAkjMk — Microsoft 365 Status (@MSFT365Status) July 18, 2024

New Zealand's acting Prime Minister, David Seymour, mentioned on X that officials were rapidly assessing the potential impacts of the global issue. Seymour noted that there was no indication the problems were due to malicious cyber activities but acknowledged the inconvenience caused to the public and businesses.

In Israel, the Cyber Directorate linked the outages to issues with the cybersecurity platform Crowdstrike. The disruptions also affected the country's post offices and hospitals, according to the ministries of communication and health.

Airlines and airports worldwide experienced major disruptions. In the US, the FAA reported that United, American, Delta, and Allegiant airlines had all grounded flights. At Los Angeles International Airport, some travelers resorted to sleeping on the floor due to a delayed United flight.

In the UK, airlines, railways, and TV stations faced significant issues. Ryanair advised passengers to arrive at least three hours before departure due to a global IT outage. Edinburgh and Stansted airports reported longer wait times and manual check-ins, respectively.

Australian airports saw growing lines and stranded passengers as online check-in services and self-service booths were down. In Melbourne, passengers waited over an hour to check in, though flights continued to operate.

In India, airlines like IndiGo were impacted, causing delays for thousands of passengers. Several airlines resorted to manual check-in and boarding processes, warning of technical delays.

Hong Kong’s Airport Authority reported that the outage affected some airlines at the city's airport, leading to a switch to manual check-in procedures. Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport noted a significant impact on flights on one of the busiest travel days of the year.

In Germany, Berlin Airport announced delays in check-ins and suspended flights until 10 a.m. Zurich Airport, Switzerland’s busiest, suspended landings temporarily, though flights already in the air were allowed to land. Some check-ins were done manually, but the airport's own systems remained operational.

At Rome's Leonardo da Vinci airport, certain US-bound flights faced delays, while others remained unaffected. In Australia, banks such as NAB, Commonwealth, and Bendigo, along with airlines Virgin Australia and Qantas, experienced significant issues. Hospitals in Britain and Germany also reported problems.

In the UK, several National Health Service practices were unable to access patient records or schedule appointments. Schleswig-Holstein University Hospital in Germany canceled all elective surgeries for the day, though emergency care continued.

Australian news outlets like ABC and Sky News faced broadcasting challenges due to sudden computer shutdowns. Some anchors broadcast live from dark offices with malfunctioning computers.

In South Africa, at least one major bank experienced nationwide service disruptions, preventing customers from making payments. New Zealand banks ASB and Kiwibank also reported service outages.

An X user shared a screenshot of an alert from Crowdstrike, indicating the company was aware of crashes related to its Falcon Sensor platform. Crowdstrike did not respond to requests for comment.

It's confirmed !! Crowdstrike Issue Guys, they are working on it, in about maybe 45 mins things will be fix #csagent #crowdstrike #BSOD pic.twitter.com/0mkfRbUAF8 — Xaaavier_8613 (@Xaaavier_8613) July 19, 2024

This global outage underscores the heavy reliance on Microsoft's services across various sectors and highlights the significant disruptions that can occur when these systems fail.

Expert Insights on the Impact and Mitigation of IT Outages

IT experts have pointed out that such large-scale outages reveal vulnerabilities in the infrastructure of major corporations. Dr. Jane Mitchell, a cybersecurity analyst, noted, "This incident shows how interconnected and dependent we are on major tech services. Companies need robust contingency plans to handle such widespread outages."

John Brown, an IT consultant, added, "Organizations must diversify their IT resources and not rely solely on one provider. Having backup systems and regular drills for such outages can minimize the impact on operations."

User Experience and Business Continuity Planning

Businesses around the world were quick to respond to customer concerns. Many airlines provided regular updates through social media and direct communications. For instance, Delta Airlines issued meal vouchers and accommodation for passengers facing extended delays.

Meanwhile, banks focused on maintaining customer trust. In Australia, NAB advised customers to use their mobile banking apps where possible and increased staffing at call centers to handle queries.

Hospitals and healthcare providers emphasized patient safety. The NHS in the UK ensured emergency services were unaffected and used manual processes to maintain operations.

 Preventative Measures

In response to this outage, companies are likely to invest more in enhancing their IT infrastructure resilience. This includes adopting multi-cloud strategies, investing in AI-driven monitoring systems to predict and prevent outages, and training staff for emergency protocols.

Microsoft, acknowledging the widespread impact, has pledged to conduct a thorough investigation and improve its service reliability. They emphasized their commitment to providing a stable and secure environment for their global user base.

Also Read: WhatsApp Outage Disrupts Service for Thousands, Downdetector Reports