Global Microsoft crash: impact on aviation industry and other sectors

21-07-24

Friday, July 19, 2024 will be remembered as a day of global chaos due to a computer failure that affected multiple sectors, the most visible being aviation. This article analyzes the causes, consequences and response to the incident that paralyzed critical operations around the world.

The origin of the problem lies in a faulty update of CrowdStrike, a cybersecurity platform that supports Microsoft systems. According to George Kurtz, CEO of CrowdStrike, it was not a cyberattack, but an error in the system update that affected critical services globally.

Impact on aviation

The most affected sector was aviation, especially on a day of extremely high air traffic:

• UK: UK airports, including Gatwick and Luton, faced a record day with 3,214 scheduled flights. The paralysis of check-in systems led to long queues and the cancellation of numerous flights. Louise Haigh, transport secretary, warned of cancellations and delays, urging passengers to stay informed.

• 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.