Global IT meltdown grounds flights, paralyzes companies worldwide
A massive IT systems failure paralyzed companies and institutions worldwide on Friday morning. Some airports and train stations decided to shut down completely, and certain airlines had to ground all their planes.
7:39 AM EDT, July 19, 2024
One of the "victims" of this situation is Berlin-Brandenburg Airport (BER), which temporarily suspended operations on Friday morning due to severe technical problems. The airport spokesperson stated that no planes were taking off or landing. "The reason is likely a global software failure of Microsoft," reported the newspaper Berliner Zeitung.
Activating emergency systems
German media reported that a technical failure caused the disruptions. According to unconfirmed information, a significant server failure occurred, and emergency systems were activated, the rbb24 station website reported.
The failure also affected Swiss companies: Swissguide, responsible for air traffic control, and Swissport, which handles passengers and cargo at airports worldwide.
Australian authorities also reported problems related to the cyber system failure. On Friday, media, banks, and telecommunications companies were paralyzed. A spokesperson for the Ministry of Home Affairs in Canberra stated that the source of the problem appears to lie with the global cybersecurity company CrowdStrike.
More countries report problems
Severe public service system disruptions are reported in countries like the United Kingdom, Japan, the Czech Republic, and Spain. However, the United States is experiencing the most significant issues. According to CNN, the most famous American airlines, including American Airlines, United, and Delta, had to ground all their aircraft.
The situation is evolving, and so far, no one can say how long this crisis will last. New reports of failures keep emerging.
