Transport providers, businesses, and governments are currently working to restore their systems following a significant technology outage that has led to long-lasting disruptions. The most impacted sector has been air travel, with thousands of flights canceled on Friday, resulting in planes and crews being out of position. Airports are still experiencing issues with check-ins and security procedures.
The root cause of this massive disruption has been identified as a faulty update deployed by CrowdStrike, a cybersecurity firm that supplies software to numerous companies globally. CrowdStrike clarified that the problem was not due to a security breach or cyberattack.
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Britain Struggles to Resume Normal Transport Operations
In the UK, the travel and transport industries are facing challenges in resuming normal operations after the global security outage. Airline passengers are encountering cancellations and delays, particularly as the summer holiday season begins for many school pupils. Gatwick Airport and Manchester Airport are gradually resuming flights, albeit with manual check-ins and potential last-minute cancellations. The Port of Dover is experiencing an influx of air passengers seeking alternative transportation to France.
The National Cyber Security Center in Britain has issued warnings about potential phishing attempts by malicious actors taking advantage of the outage. While the worst of the crisis seems to have passed, sectors like aviation may require more time to fully recover.
Eurowings Expects Return to Normal Flight Operations
Eurowings, a subsidiary of Lufthansa, anticipates a return to mostly scheduled flight operations after disruptions on Friday. Passengers are advised that online check-ins, boarding processes, and booking services are gradually being restored, although some isolated disruptions may still occur.
Flight Cancellations by Major US Airlines
Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, and American Airlines have all faced significant flight cancellations due to the technology outage. Delta and its affiliates canceled over 1,100 flights, while United and American Airlines had to cancel hundreds of flights each. Southwest and Alaska Airlines, unaffected by the software issue, reported minimal cancellations.
Portland Declares Emergency Over Computer System Outages
Portland, Oregon, declared a state of emergency as more than half of the city's computer systems were impacted by the global internet outage. Emergency services remained operational, but dispatchers had to resort to manual tracking of 911 calls for a brief period.
Border Crossings Delayed Due to Internet Outage
Border crossings into the US from both Canada and Mexico experienced delays as a result of the internet outage. Pedestrians and motorists faced extended wait times at entry points, with delays of up to three hours reported at the San Ysidro Port of Entry. The Trusted Traveler program for expedited border crossings also experienced delays.
