Global business operations faced significant disruptions Friday morning due to widespread digital malfunctions, affecting airlines and financial institutions alike.
Several major industries, including media, airports, airlines, and the stock exchange, experienced severe operational interruptions. Social media buzzed with reports of “blue screens of death,” indicating malfunctioning Windows devices.
Melbourne Airport announced a “global technology issue” impacting “check-in procedures for some airlines” on X (formerly Twitter).
Airports across Europe also reported difficulties. Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport cited a “global computer failure” affecting flights, while London Gatwick experienced check-in issues attributed to “global Microsoft problems.” Berlin Brandenburg Airport also faced check-in delays.
Ryanair informed customers on its website that a “global third-party IT outage” had made booking and check-in services unavailable.
Other transportation companies, including Belgian railway services, reported IT issues affecting sales channels and online announcements.
While the London Stock Exchange operated normally, it reported being unable to publish news on its site.
Major broadcasters encountered problems that hindered live broadcasts, with several Sky employees reporting issues on X.
The European Commission addressed the incidents, stating, “We are aware of the media reports on the cyber incidents affecting various sectors in EU member states and worldwide. We can confirm that Commission services have not been affected.”
Users on a CrowdStrike subreddit linked Windows crashes to CrowdStrike’s Falcon platform, which combats cyberattacks.
Microsoft acknowledged two unrelated issues: one with its Azure cloud platform and another involving CrowdStrike’s cybersecurity services.
“We are aware of an issue affecting a subset of customers,” Microsoft stated regarding Azure. They also noted a “Windows devices issue” caused by a CrowdStrike update, with an expected resolution forthcoming.
CrowdStrike confirmed they were “actively working with customers impacted by a defect found in a single content update for Windows hosts,” clarifying that Mac and Linux hosts were unaffected.
“This is not a security incident or cyberattack,” CrowdStrike emphasized. “The issue has been identified, isolated, and a fix has been deployed. We recommend organizations communicate with CrowdStrike representatives through official channels.”
