A global IT outage, caused by a Microsoft error wreaked havoc on business worldwide on Friday, grounding flights and disrupting banks, telecommunications companies, TV and radio stations, supermarkets.
Reports of “blue screen of death” errors on Windows workstations blew up in Australia, India, the United States, and New Zealand.
In Australia, users reported being locked out of their workstations early Friday afternoon, affecting banking apps and supermarket systems. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation and Sky News also confirmed transmission difficulties.
Early reports suggest that an antivirus created by cybersecurity company Crowdstrike, and used by multiple companies worldwide, blocked an update on Windows, causing computers around the world to crash.
Specialized site Downdetector announced that the IT outage is impacting numerous banks and telecommunications companies.
In the US, American Airlines, United, and Delta have requested the FAA to ground all flights. The FAA has directed air traffic controllers to inform pilots in the air about communication issues with these airlines, resulting in no departures for American, United, or Delta flights.
In Europe, problems have also been noted in Spain and Germany. Berlin’s airport has suspended air traffic until 11:00 this morning due to a technical issue with its information system. Earlier, the airport’s management posted on X (formerly Twitter) to notify passengers of delays at check-in caused by the technical problem.
Microsoft has acknowledged the situation, stating that it is addressing the technical issue affecting various businesses, particularly in Australia. The company reported that services are improving as it continues to implement mitigation measures, according to an update on X.
