A widespread IT outage has led to the grounding of flights by major US airlines and has caused significant disruptions across various sectors worldwide. The glitch, attributed to a problematic software update from cybersecurity firm Crowdstrike, has affected not only airlines but also banks and emergency services globally.

Delta Airlines, the world’s second-largest carrier by passenger numbers, has paused all of its flights. American Airlines initially grounded its operations but has since resumed service. Crowdstrike has issued an apology, confirming that the issue has been “identified, isolated, and a fix has been deployed,” although the exact timeline for a complete resolution remains unclear.

Live Updates on the Global Disruption

The outage has left thousands of travelers stranded. US tourist Stephanie Thompson, who was trying to return to Dallas from the UK, shared her frustration from Edinburgh Airport: “We couldn’t get an answer from anyone. I spent over an hour on hold with American Airlines before giving up. We just paid $6,800 for a one-way trip home and are hoping to leave tonight.”

Los Angeles International Airport confirmed that while some flights are still operating, the issue predominantly affects airline operations rather than airport functions. United Airlines, along with several smaller carriers, has also been impacted.

The disruption first became apparent on Thursday evening when Frontier Airlines reported a major “technical outage” affecting its services. US Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg stated that his department is closely monitoring the situation, which has led to numerous cancellations and delays across Frontier’s network.

Globally, over 1,300 flights have been cancelled due to the outage. In Japan, Narita Airport near Tokyo is experiencing system issues with airlines such as JetStar, Jeju Air, Qantas, HK Express, and Spring Japan. Delhi Airport in India has reported temporary disruptions to its services, while Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport is also experiencing delays, though the full extent of the impact is still being assessed.

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Stay tuned for live updates as the situation develops and more details emerge regarding the global IT outage’s effects on travel and other sectors.