In a move that underscores the critical role technology plays in modern business, Delta Air Lines has filed a lawsuit against cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike. The lawsuit, filed in a Georgia state court, stems from a global IT outage in July that caused widespread flight cancellations and cost Delta millions.
Delta claims that a software update from CrowdStrike was the culprit, causing a “catastrophic” crash of over 8.5 million Microsoft Windows-based computers worldwide. This disruption on July 19th impacted not just Delta, but also numerous other sectors, including banking, healthcare, and hospitality, leading to global flight cancellations.
Delta, a CrowdStrike customer since 2022, alleges the outage resulted in the cancellation of 7,000 flights over five days, affecting 1.3 million passengers and costing the airline over $500 million. The airline is seeking damages exceeding $500 million to cover out-of-pocket losses, lost profits, legal fees, and reputational harm.
The incident has been described as the “largest IT outage in history,” highlighting the significant reliance on technology companies and the potential for widespread disruption when things go wrong. Even Microsoft, with its own cloud services, was affected, contributing to flight cancellations for several airlines.
Delta’s CEO, Ed Bastian, publicly criticized Microsoft’s platform as “fragile” following the incident, drawing a contrast with the perceived stability of Apple’s systems. The airline has engaged attorney David Boies to pursue damages from both CrowdStrike and Microsoft, anticipating a direct revenue impact of $380 million for the September quarter due to the operational disruptions.
This lawsuit is likely to generate significant attention and could set a precedent for how companies address responsibility in the event of major tech failures. It raises crucial questions about accountability, cybersecurity, and the interconnectedness of modern infrastructure. The outcome of the legal battle will be closely watched by companies and individuals alike, as it could have far-reaching implications for the future of technology and its impact on our daily lives.
