• The Netherlands: KLM, the main Dutch airline, was forced to suspend most of its operations, severely affecting the start of the holiday season. Although operations partially recovered, further delays and cancellations were anticipated.

• Spain: the Aena airport network experienced slow processes due to the failure. Although airports were not paralyzed, delays were unavoidable, with many procedures being handled manually during the first hours.

United States: on a day of high passenger traffic, airlines such as American Airlines, United and Delta temporarily suspended their flights by order of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Gradually, operations were resumed.

Other affected sectors

The failure was not limited to aviation. Sectors such as finance and public administration also experienced significant problems, exacerbating the impact of the incident.

The affected entities activated contingency protocols to mitigate the effects of the failure. In the case of aviation, manual systems and temporary measures were implemented to ensure, to the extent possible, continuity of operations.

George Kurtz and others responsible issued communications to clarify the nature of the failure and next steps. Transparency in communication helped to calm, albeit partially, the uncertainty generated among users and operators.

This incident highlights the critical dependence on technology in global operations and the need for robust contingency plans. Collaboration between technology companies and their customers is crucial to efficiently manage and resolve large-scale failures.

The global failure of Microsoft and CrowdStrike has made clear the level of interconnectedness and dependency of technology systems in various sectors. The ability to respond quickly and effectively to technology crises is essential to minimize the impact on daily life and business operations. This event serves as a reminder of the importance of preparedness and resilience in an increasingly digitized world.